Tree to 10 m (30 ft) tall and 30 cm (1 ft) diameter with spreading crown. Bark gray, divided into scaly ridges. Twigs light brown, thick, with raised leaf scars notched at the top. Buds rounded, gray, finely hairy, in the notch at the top of the leaf base or scar. Leaves opposite, pinnately compound, 13-20 cm (5-8 in) long. Leaflets usually 5, short-stalked, elliptical, usually coarsely wavy-toothed, 3-7.5 cm (1.2-3 in)long and 2-5 cm (0.8-2 in) wide, dark green above, whitish below. Flowers very small, numerous, purple, in small branching clusters on twigs in early spring. Fruits samaras hanging in clusters, 1.5-3 cm (0.6-1.2 in) long, with narrow wing not extending down the body.
Distribution: Native to southcentral Oklahoma and central Texas.
Habitat: Rocky slopes, canyons, and bluffs, usually on limestone.
NWI status: none
Comment:Texas ash is similar to white ash and is often considered to be a variety of it. The lumber is very similar to white ash and is marketed as such. Fraxinus is the old Latin name for a species of European ash; texensis refers to Texas.
Distribution in Oklahoma: 
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Last update: 9/10/99
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