Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Fraxinus americana

Fraxinus americana

9.6
A large tree from eastern North America with pale undersides on its leaves and hard brown wood
  • noun
  • /ˈfræk.sɪ.nəs əˈmɛr.ɪ.kə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fresno blanco
  • The wood of the Fraxinus americana is prized for making baseball bats due to its strength and flexibility.

Examples

  • The silvery undersides of the leaves can help you identify a Fraxinus americana in the wild.

  • In city parks, Fraxinus americana is often planted for its attractive foliage and shade.

  • The Fraxinus americana tree grows well in rich soils.

  • Many people appreciate the beauty of Fraxinus americana in autumn.

  • In city parks, Fraxinus americana is often planted for its attractive foliage and shade.

  • The wood of the Fraxinus americana is prized for making baseball bats due to its strength and flexibility.

  • Many people appreciate the beauty of Fraxinus americana in autumn.

Synonyms

white ash
vsFraxinus americana
  • US
6.3

A North American tree with pale green or silvery leaf undersides and hard brown wood used for furniture

is the formal scientific name used in taxonomy and formal writing

Surface Forms

Fraxinus americana singular
Fraxinus americanas plural

Morphology

Fraxinus + americana

This is a Linnaean binomial composed of the genus name 'Fraxinus' (ash) and the species epithet 'americana' (of or from America). A learner who knows these constituent meanings can directly infer it denotes the American/white ash species, so the overall meaning is compositionally predictable and cross-linguistically recognizable.

Etymology

Fraxinus americana is a Latin plant name. The first part, Fraxinus, was the old word for an 'ash' tree and the second part, americana, means 'from America', so the name literally says 'American ash' and helps you remember it is the white ash tree from eastern North America.