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Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Trees Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)

General: Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina) is a tall, round-topped tree of wet areas. The leaves are compound (each leaf is divided into 5 or 7(11) elongate leaflets). Seeds are produced in bunches that hang from small branchlet; each seed has a wing that catches in the wind. Ripe fruits long (15-38 mm) and narrow (4-5 mm). The bark is gray with many, shallow furrows. Plants male or female.

Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina) are found along washes, rivers, and other wet areas in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone.

Around Las Vegas, the best place to find Velvet Ash is along the Calico Basin Boardwalk Trail in Red Rock Canyon NCA.

Family: Olive (Oleaceae).

Other Names:

Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
This is one, compound leaf

Plant Form: Upright, branching tree.

Height: Tree, 15-30 ft (to 50 ft).

Trunk: Gray with many, shallow furrows in the bark. Fresh twigs cylindrical (round in cross section; terete).

Leaves: Leaves compound with a terminal leaflet and 2 or 3 pairs of lateral leaflets. Leaflets generally lanceolate to lance-ovate, but not oval. Leaflets with serrate edges. Lateral leaflets usually stalked (as if each leaflet has a petiole). On young leaves, the under surface may be velvety.

Flowers: Not showy, no petals. Male and female flowers on separate trees.

Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Fruits: long and narrow

Seeds: Seeds are produced in bunches that hang from small branchlets; each seed has a wing (samara) that catches in the wind and aids in dispersal. Seed 12–14 mm long. Sumara long and narrow (15–38 mm long by 4-5 mm wide); Entire fruit long relative to the seed.

Distribution: California to SW Utah and Texas, and south into northern Mexico.

Habitat: Washes, river corridors, springs.

Elevation: About 1,000 to 5,000 feet.

Comments:

Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina) Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina) Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Young, smooth bark
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Older, fissured bark
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina) Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Mature leaves are compound
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Mature leaves are compound
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Typical leaf with five leaflets (dorsal surface)
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Typical leaf with five leaflets (ventral surface)
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Leaf with three pairs of lateral leaflets
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Young leaves often hairy, especially below
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Terminal leaflet (dorsal surface)
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Terminal leaflet (ventral surface)
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Terminal leaflet (dorsal surface)
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Terminal leaflet (ventral surface)
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Male flowers
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Male flowers
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Female flowers
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Female flowers
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Female flowers
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Female flowers
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Fruits: long and slender relative to seed
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Fruits
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Fruits
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Fruits
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Fruits long
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Fruit narrow
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
When ripe, the fruits fall to the ground
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Velvet Ash fruit (green) and Singleleaf Ash (dried)
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Vibrant fall colors
Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina)
Vibrant fall colors

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 240721

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