2 Genera
15 species (4 on campus)
I. Leaves
A. Opposite
B. Palmately compound
C. Estipulate
II. Flowers
A. Perfect or imperfect (monoecious)
B. Zygomorphic
III. Fruit
A. Leathery capsule with 1-6 large brown
seeds with light
colored hilum
IV. Economic Importance
A. Wood used a little in boxes, crates, shipping
containers,
concealed parts of furniture
B. Oranamental
V. Range
A. N., C., S. America, Mexico, SE Europe
E Asia, &
India
Species comparison within Aesculus
[Latin name for tree with edible acorns]
Resinous Buds (Horsechestnuts)
I. Aesculus hippocastanum (European
horsechestnut)
B. 7 leaflets
C. White flowers
II. A. carnea (Red horsechestnut)
A. Moderate resin
B. 5 leaflets
C. Red
flowers
Nonresinous Buds (Buckeyes)
I. A. glabra (Ohio, Fetid Buckeye)
A. 5 leaflets that smell bad
B. Prickles on fruit
C. Light yellow flowers
D. Rough, corky bark
II. A. flava (A. octandra) (Yellow,
Sweet Buckeye)
[Yellowish] [eight stemmed]
A. 5 leaflets that don't smell or smell sweet
B. Smooth fruit
C. Yellow flowers
D. Smooth, firm bark
Oleaceae (Olive Family)
30 Genera (5 on campus, 3 are trees)
600 species
I. Leaves
A. Opposite
B. Simple or pinnately compound
C. estipulate
II. Flowers
A. Regular
B. Perfect and/or imperfect (dioecious)
C. 2 stamens, some with 3 or 5
D. 2 celled ovary with 1 style and 2 lobed
stigma
III. Fruit
A. Samara, capsule, berry, drupe
IV. Economic Importance
A. Fraxinus americana is second only to hickory
for wooden handles,
bats because of its
flexible strength
B. Fraxinus nigra wood used in weaving because
it splits easily
C. Fraxinus wood used in furniture & veneers
D. Ornamental trees and shrubs
1. Forsythia
(Goldenbell) (OT,)
2. Ligustrum
(Privet) (OT,)
3. Chionanthus
virginicus (Fringe Tree) (OT,)
[snow flower (grk)]
4. Syringa
vulgaris (Lilac) (OT,)
[pipe (grk)]
5. Fraxinus
(Ash)
E. Olea europaea produces edible drupe and
oil
V. Range
A. Temperate & tropical regions of N.
hemisphere
Species comparison within Fraxinus (Ash)
[Latin name]
I. Common Features
A. Odd pinnately compound leaves
B. Buds with 1-3 pairs of scales
C. 1 seeded samara with elongated terminal
wing
II. Fraxinus quadrangulata (Blue Ash)
A. Square stems
III. Round Stems
A. Sessile leaflets
1. F.
nigra (Black Ash) (OT,)
a. Tawny pubescence
2. F.
excelsior (European Ash) (OT,)
a. Glabrous
b. Many different varieties
Simple leaf, varigated leaves
yellow or striped branches
dwarf or pedulous habit
B. Leaflets with petioles
1. F.
americana (White Ash)
a. Deeply concave leaf scar
b. Diamond pattern bark
b. var. americana - glabrous
c. var. biltmoreana - white pubescence
2. F.
pennsylvanica
a. Slightly concave to convex leaf scar
b. var. subintegerrima - glabrous
c. var. pennsylvanica - tawny pubescence