Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)

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Tree with open, rounded crown of spreading branches. Height is 40 ft. (12 m). Diameter is 1 ft. (0.3 m). Leaves are 3–6 in. (7.5–15 cm) long, pinnately compound. They are lance-shaped to elliptical, pointed at the ends and slightly wavy-toothed. Shiny green above, paler and densely covered with soft hairs beneath. Leaves turn yellow in autumn. Bark is gray, deeply furrowed into broad, scaly ridges. Flowers are 0.13 in. (3 mm) long and found in small clusters on twigs. Male flowers are yellowish and female flowers are greenish on separate trees. Fruit is 0.75–1.25 in. (2–3 cm) long and light brown. Found in dense hanging clusters that mature in summer and early autumn.

Habitat
Moist soils of stream banks, washes and canyons. Mainly located in mountains, desert, desert grasslands. Native to New Mexico.

Discussion
This is the common ash in the Southwest, usually planted as a shade tree. In the desert, ash trees indicate a permanent underground water supply.

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