FRINGE TREE (Chionanthus Virginica, Linn.). A slender, narrow-headed tree, 20 to 80 feet high, or less. Bark reddish, scaly; branches gray or brown. Wood light brown, close, heavy, hard. Buds small, brown, ovate; inner scales becoming leaf-like. Leaves opposite, simple, 4 to 8 inches long, 1 to 4 inches broad, smooth, except on veins below, dark green, paler below, oval or oblong on short petioles; yellow in early autumn. Flowers May and June, perfect, white, each with
4 slender, curving petals 1 inch long, in graceful, pendulous clusters. Fruit in September, clustered 1-seeded drupes, 1 inch long, dark blue, with slight bloom; flesh dry; skin thick Dist.: Rich, moist soil southern Pennsylvania to Florida; west to Arkansas and Texas. Admirable ornamental tree, hardy to New England.