Young Texas Ash?

last year

This ~3' tall bush (or juvenile tree?) was found in the Central Texas Hill Country. Its young leaves are about ~1/2" long. What is it?

Featured Answer

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

last year

Honestly, the picture of the twigs is really hard to use for id. I can see no clear buds but the leaf arrangement looks probably alternate, not opposite or sub opposite. The leaves look genuinely trifoliate, not pinnate. The Fraxinus species I am familiar with have trefoil leaves only in the very, very early seedling stage, not as older saplings. So, no, I don't think it is any kind of Ash.

Comments (8)

blakrab Centex
Original Author
last year
OK, any idea what it is, then?
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
last modified: last year
No, sorry. Texas flora is a long way out of my area.
blakrab Centex thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
blakrab Centex
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Ah, actually your leaf observation just triggered it in me...I believe this is Wafer Ash (Ptelea trifoliata)!

And I did see another mature one in the area...so it makes sense!
bengz6westmd
last year
last modified: last year
Wafer ash has alternate leaves. Can't say for sure, but pic seems like it shows opposite leaves like ash.
blakrab Centex thanked bengz6westmd
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
The twigs look alternate to me. But the problem is that the pictures just aren't good enough to tell with any confidence.
blakrab Centex thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
blakrab Centex
Original Author
last year
Yes, the twigs look alternate to me, too.

And sorry, thin stems against a busy, non-contrasting background are always like trying to photograph Bigfoot... :D
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
If you could carry a sheet of white card or paper with you, hold it behind the twig and take a close up, we could see details of buds and leaf arrangement. Also try to avoid birds eye views.