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Oregon ash
Mollusk
Mollusk
EXPLORE > PLANTS > ANGIOSPERMS
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Fraxinus latifolia

This deciduous tree is a member of the olive family and is one of 16 species of ash in the United States. The ash can be identified by long, straight boles (trunks) topped with rounded crowns of foliage. The leaves in adult specimens are oval-shaped and relatively flat with an irregularly serrated edge. Bark in young trees is generally smooth and gray-green in color but becomes darker and heavily furrowed as the plant ages. Mature trees will reach heights of approximately 82 feet (25 m) with a trunk diameter of between 16 and 30 inches (40 to 76 cm).

At about thirty years of age, the tree will begin producing small nuts measuring about 2 inches in length. It will continue to produce fruit every three to five years for the rest of its life, or up to 250 years in age. The seeds are often consumed by birds and small mammals.

​Distribution

The Oregon ash grows in damp soils from sea level to 5,600 feet (1,700 m) in elevation. It is often found in riparian areas alongside or even dominating black cottonwood populations. It may be found growing in close proximity to red alder, bigleaf maple, Oregon white oak and various willow trees. The Oregon ash is common on the west side of the Cascade Mountain Range from southern British Columbia to central California.

Conservation Status

Common.
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