This tree grows principally upon the river bottoms of the Mississippi valley; also on the banks of the Illinois River and its branches as far north as Bureau County, beyond which it becomes rare. It is about two feet in diameter, and reaches sixty or seventy feet in height. Its distinguishing trait from other members of its species is the triangular shape of the young shoots. The bark of old trees is not like that of the white ash, deeply furrowed, and divided into small spaces. The blue ash has the same qualities as other members of the ash genus, but possesses in a greater degree durability when exposed to the alternations of dryness and moisture: this quality has been satisfactorily proven in its use for posts, rails, stakes, etc., in rural fences; where it grows it is employed for the same purposes as the white ash. Michana claims that a blue color can be extracted from the inner bark, and doubtless from this fact it has derived its name. It is planted and treated the same as the white ash, but I would suggest a more southern climate than for the white ash—south of latitude 40°.