General: Singleleaf Ash (Fraxinus anomala) is a modest, round-topped shrub or short tree of washes and wet areas. The leaves usually are entire and somewhat broad, but they may be compound with a terminal leaflet and two (rarely four) leaflets. In contrast, our other Ash trees always have compound leaves (a terminal leaflet and 4-6 leaflets). The leaf, or terminal leaflet, is broad and wide.

Seeds are produced in bunches that hang from small branchlet; each seed has a wing that catches in the wind. Fruits are short and wide compared to our other Ash trees. The bark is gray with many, shallow furrows. Trees bisexual.

Singleleaf Ash are found on rocky hillsides and along washes, but not closely tied to wet areas, in the Upper Sonoran (Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) and Transition (Yellow Pine Forest) life zones.

Around Las Vegas, Singleleaf Ash are relatively uncommon, but they can be found in the moist, middle- and higher-elevation canyons and around some springs and washes in Red Rock Canyon NCA, including Calico Basin.

Family: Olive (Oleaceae).

Plant Form: Upright, branching shrub or small tree.

Height: Tall shrub to short tree, to about 15 ft.

Trunk: Stems many. Gray with many, shallow furrows in the bark. Fresh twigs square in cross section (4-sided).

Leaves: Leaves usually entire, oval, with smooth edges. Leaves occasionally compound, and if so, 1 pair of leaflets (rarely 2). Lateral leaflets substantially smaller than terminal leaflet. Petiole of lateral leaflets short. Leaflets sometimes elongate with serrate edges like Velvet Ash.

Flowers: Not showy, has no petals.

Seeds: Seeds are produced in bunches that hang from small branchlets; each seed has a wing (samara) that catches in the wind. Ripe fruit short (13-24 mm) and wide (8-10 mm).

Distribution: California east to Colorado and New Mexico.

Habitat: Washes, river corridors, springs.

Elevation: About 4,000 to 8,000 feet.

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