Fraxinus+bungeana+(Sarah+M.)

Fraxinus bungeana, "Chinese Flowering Ash"



The ashes are usually medium to large trees, and mostly deciduous, with its generic name originating from Latin. The Genus Fraxinus are in the olive family and are usually medium to large trees. The leaves are opposite and mostly pinnately-compound. The seeds of this tree are born in keys, which then blossoms into a type of fruit known as a samara. As a matter of fact, that bark of various ashes are used in traditional Chinese medicine. The Chinese Flowering Ash originated in China (although not much proof of this can be found), close to the southern Mediterranean where it is known for having fragrant white flowers in dense panicles.
 * Historical origins of the plant:**

The ash offers commercial, ornamental, and ecological values. The wood of ash is very hard, tough, and strong usually helped to make bows, tool handles, bats, and other uses requiring high strength. In addition, many animals such as birds, squirrels, insect larvae in certain regions thrive off of ash trees and their fruit production to provide habitat and food. Also, it is known as manna ash for a laxative that is extracted from its gum-specifically in the Chinese culture.
 * Cultural significance of the plant:**

The white ash is actually very important to the U.S. as it is an important timber tree in eastern North America and a great source for wood used to make baseball bats. It is also used to make the bodies of many guitars because it is known for its bright, cutting tone, and quality. Ash is also used for making office furniture and other sturdy piece of household products. Also, the green ash is widely planted tree in the United States because of its look. On the down side, a wood boring beetle called the emerald ash borer has been introduced to North America from eastern Asia, killing off many trees. Therefore, the public is being cautioned to not transport any unfinished wood products which may spread this specific insect to other parts of the U.S.
 * Importation or cultivation of the plant in the United States:**

//Ashes of eastern North America:// //Fraxinus americana// White Ash (also called cane ash, Biltmore ash or Biltmore white ash) //Fraxinus caroliniana// Water Ash //Fraxinus nigra// Black Ash (also called swamp ash, basket ash, brown ash, hoop ash, or water ash) //Fraxinus pennsylvanica// Red Ash (also called green ash, swamp ash or water ash) //Fraxinus profunda// (syn. //F. tomentosa//) Pumpkin Ash (also called red ash) //Fraxinus quadrangulata// Blue Ash

From this particular tree, I think students could focus on the overall significance and impact ash actually has on life here in the US and overseas. Students could compare their uses of ash to those in the Chinese culture. Many would probably come up with personal connections to things such as baseball bats or even their musical instruments like guitars. Furthermore, students can learn about the actual genus, Fraxinus, and better understand what flowering plants have anything to do with geography, along with the impact on travelers going to certain parts of the world. Also, since there is an insect which is hindering the growth of certain ash trees, as a class, we could trace the path at which the insect is born to its overall global significance. From this, students could write about the detrimental affects which society will undergo if this tree, or the entire ash tree family, is completely destroyed or becomes less prevalent around the world.
 * Description of what we can learn about culture (in the U.S. or in the place of origin for the plant):**

__Sources:__ http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Ash_%28tree%29 http://www.fact-index.com/a/as/ash_tree.html