ASH TREE LOOK-A-LIKES

The following species are not within the genus Fraxinus, and thus are not susceptible to EAB.  They can, however, be mistaken for ash.

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

hackberry leaves

Leaf: Alternate, simple, ovate to oblong-ovate, 6-9 cm long, widest toward the asymmetrical base.  Serrate except at base, bright green and usually smooth, dull light to medium green above, paler below and glabrous or slightly hairy on veins.  Often can be identified by protrusions found below leaf, known as ‘hackberry nipple gall’ created by Pachypsylla sp.. Fruit very different from that of Fraxinus spp.

hackberry bark      hackberry

C. occidentalis bark has narrow corky projecting ridges which are sometimes reduced to wart-like projections, unlike the typical diamond pattern found on many ash.

Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo)

manitoba maple leaf

Leaf: Pinnately compound; composed of 3-9 leaflets on a central stock.  Leaflets 5-12 com long, shallowly and irregularly coarsely toothed or lobed, often asymmetrical; upper surface light green, grayish-green beneath, usually hairless; yellow in the autumn (Farrar, 1995).

Fruit: Samara, usually profusely borne, yellowish green maturing to ash-brown, persisting into winter, the pair forming an angle of 60 degrees or less, 2.5-3cm long, virtually every seed is viable (Dirr, 1998)

a.negundo bark a.negundo small

Bark: Smooth, light greyish-brown; with age, becoming darker, furrowed into narrow firm ridges (Farrar, 1995).

Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)

norway leaf

Leaf: Opposite, simple, 5-7 lobes; lobes sharp pointed (acuminate), subcordate, remotely dentate, lustrous dark green above, lustrous beneath often with hairs in axils of veins; milky sap is visible when petiole is removed from stem (Dirr, 1998).

Fruit: Samara; wide-spreading, each 3-5 cm long, glabrous with virtually horizontally spreading wings (Dirr, 1998).

norway bark

Bark: Greyish black with ridges and shallow furrows that form a rather interesting textural effect (Dirr, 1998). Very dark grey, with firm, low, intersecting ridges, pattern very regular (Farrar, 1995).

Amur Cork Tree (Phellodendron amurense)

cork tree leaf

Leaf: Opposite, pinnately compound; composed of 5-13 leaflets on a central stalk 10-15 cm long; each leaflet 6-10 cm long, narrowly ovate, acuminate, entire, shiny dark green on the upper surface, aromatic, with translucent dots (Farrar, 1995).

Fruit: Small berry, 10 mm diameter, when mature dark blue, aromatic with 5 hard seeds (Farrar, 1995).

amur cork bark cork tree small

Bark: On old trunks, ridged-and-furrowed into a cork-like pattern, grey-brown in colour; very beautiful and unusual bark pattern but does not develop until old age (Dirr, 1998). Soft and corky.

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

walnut leaf

Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, 30-60 cm long, 15-23 leaflets, the terminal one often missing, each leaflet 5-13 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, rounded at base, irregular serrate, at first minutely pubescent above, finally nearly glabrous and somewhat lustrous dark green, pubescent and glandular beneath, leaves fragrant when crushed; petiole and rachis minutely downy (Dirr, 1998).

Fruit: Globular, 4-6 cm in diameter (pictured fruit immature), in drooping clusters of 1-3. Husk slightly hairy (Farrar, 1995).  When mature similar in appearance to a tennis ball.

walnut bark  j.nigra smallBark: Light brown, scaly when young; becoming darker, with rounded, almost black intersecting ridges (Farrar, 1995).

More to be added including Sorbus spp., Carya spp., and Ailanthus altissima.

Photo credit: H.Schibli

References:

Dirr, M. A. (1998). Manual of woody landscape plants: Their identification, ornamental characteristics, culture, propagation and uses (5th ed.). Champaign, Illinois: Stipes Publishing L.L.C.

Farrar, J. L. (1995). Trees in Canada. Markham, Ontario: Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited and the Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada.

2 thoughts on “ASH TREE LOOK-A-LIKES

  1. I have several mature Manitoba Maples that seem to dying. How can I tell if this is a result of old age or some disease or insect? Is this tree species vulnerable to the emerald ash borer?

    • Manitoba maples are not susceptible to the emerald ash borer. It could be old age, as they are not terribly long lived trees, or it could be a disease, insect, or, more likely, environmental stress (like a delayed response to the 2012 drought). You could always seek out an arborist to come assess your trees’ health. You may also want to consider planting longer lived species underneath your Manitobas to replace them some day.

      Good luck!

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