FRINGE TREE

either of two tree species constituting the genus Chionanthus in the family Oleaceae. They get their name from the long, fringy, snow-white flowers that cover the trees in spring. The flowers hang in clusters of about the same length as the leaves and have four narrow petals. The dark-blue fruits are oval. C. virginicus, from southeastern North America, reaches about 10 metres (33 feet). C. retusus, from China, seldom reaches 6 m.