Oak and ash look very similar from a distance, both being ring-porous woods. Ash tends to have a whiter tone (unless you get some dark heartwood). Red oak tends to have reds, yellows, and often some blacks in it (I was once told there were 35 different color gradings for red oak). White oak tends to be browner. But all that said, any wood can have all the color bleached out of it. The way I tell is to look for medullary rays. Ash has none, red oak shorter ones and white oak longer ones. What medullary rays look like depends upon the orientation of the wood as cut from the log, as the rays go radially. Plainsawn will show just short lines, quarter or rift sawn will show large figure.

I appreciate everyone's concern about my plant. However, I know it isn't getting enough sunlight. I live in a dorm and therefore only have one window to choose from and it isn't placed well for sunlight. The pot does have some drainage, it just doesn't look like it. The only thing I could do to improve it's living conditions would be to give it to someone with a better window, which I don't want to do because I like having a small piece of nature in my room. Hopefully, my room will have a better window that lets in more light next semester. Also, the plant has been tall like this since I got it.

I got so excited when I saw this one because I actually had been studying up on these guys! Nice save! I am not good with scientific names, but I believe it is a cross as stated above with the one sometimes referred to as key lime pie, my daughter calls mermaid tails! Wish I was better with the names but Mombie brain ;)

Claire do you mean me? I don't remember mentioning it but your question is relevant. Our house smelled terrible when we bought it due to un-tended pets. Gutting down to beams, studs, and joists took care of that though! Only the master bedroom and finishing stuff like baseboards are left to do, Husband is working on it slowly and sporadically as work allows. Which is practically never...