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Butterflies, Butterfly Larvae, Bees, Other Showy Insects
No
Conservation Status
No
38931
Interesting Tidbits
Listed as a Species Threatened in ON by SARA (Species at Risk Act). Listed as a Species Threatened by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada), November, 2002.
For more information:
http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=255
The fruits have been used in beer as a substitute for hops, hence the name hop-tree. (Kershaw)
Occurring in Quebec as naturalized non-native.
Features compound, trifoliate, shiny, dark green leaves (each leaflet is 2-5"" long) which turn greenish yellow in autumn. Terminal clusters (cymes) of tiny white flowers appear in late spring, but are not particularly showy.
Carrion flies pollinate the flowers.
Flowers give way to pendulous seed clusters, each seed being encased in a thin, circular, winged disc (1"" diameter samara). Seeds mature to brown in late summer and persist through most of the winter.
This tree has several very descriptive common names:
hop tree - in reference to a prior use of the seeds as a substitute for hops)
wafer ash - in reference to the thin, wafer-like appearance of the seed
stinking ash - in reference to the unpleasant smell of not only the flowers but also bruised foliage and bark
The Genus name of Ptelea is from Greek meaning elm in recognition of the similarity of the seed to that of elms.
Synonyms:
Ptelea pentaphylla, Ptelea trifoliata L., sensu Fernald, also Swink & Wilhelm
This plant is dioecious, with separate male and female trees.
Seeds can be collected and sown in late summer or early fall. Softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings can be taken at the same time for propagation.
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