![NarrowleafAsh](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/NarrowleafAsh.jpg)
''Fraxinus'' (),
commonly called ash, is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s in the
olive and
lilac family,
Oleaceae
Oleaceae, also known as the olive family, is a taxonomic family of flowering shrubs, trees, and a few lianas in the order Lamiales, It presently comprises 28 genera, one of which is recently extinct.Peter S. Green. 2004. "Oleaceae". pages 2 ...
. It contains 45–65 species of usually medium to large
tree
In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...
s, mostly
deciduous
In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, ...
, though a number of
subtropical species are
evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...
. The genus is widespread across much of Europe, Asia, and North America.
The
leaves are
opposite (rarely in
whorls of three), and mostly
pinnately compound, though simple in a few
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
. The
seed
A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...
s, popularly known as "keys" or "helicopter seeds", are a type of
fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering.
Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...
known as a
samara. Some ''Fraxinus'' species are
dioecious, having male and female flowers on separate plants but sex in ash is expressed as a continuum between male and female individuals, dominated by unisexual trees. With age, ash may change their sexual function from predominantly male and hermaphrodite towards femaleness ; if grown as an ornamental and both sexes are present, ashes can cause a considerable litter problem with their seeds.
Rowans or mountain ashes have leaves and buds superficially similar to those of true ashes, but belong to the unrelated genus ''
Sorbus
''Sorbus'' is a genus of over 100 species of trees and shrubs in the rose family, Rosaceae. Species of ''Sorbus'' (''s.l.'') are commonly known as whitebeam, rowan ( mountain-ash) and service tree. The exact number of species is disputed depe ...
'' in the
rose family
Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a medium-sized family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera.
The name is derived from the type genus ''Rosa''. Among the most species-rich genera are '' Alchemilla'' (270), ''Sorbus ...
.
Etymology
The tree's common English name, "ash", traces back to the
Old English
Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th c ...
''æsc'', which relates to the proto-Indo-European for the tree, while the generic name originated in
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
from a proto-Indo-European word for birch. Both words are also used to mean "
spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fasten ...
" in their respective languages, as the wood is good for shafts.
Selected species
Species are arranged into sections supported by phylogenetic analysis:
; Section ''Dipetalae''
* ''
Fraxinus anomala''
Torr. ex S.Watson – singleleaf ash
* ''
Fraxinus dipetala
''Fraxinus dipetala'', the California ash or two-petal ash, is a species of ash native to southwestern North America in the United States in northwestern Arizona, California, southern Nevada, and Utah, and in Mexico in northern Baja California. ...
''
Hook. & Arn. – California ash or two-petal ash
* ''
Fraxinus parryi''
Moran – Chaparral ash
* ''
Fraxinus quadrangulata''
Michx. – blue ash
* ''
Fraxinus trifoliolata''
; Section ''Fraxinus''
* ''
Fraxinus angustifolia
''Fraxinus angustifolia'', the narrow-leaved ash, is a species of ''Fraxinus'' native to central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia.Flora Europaea''Fraxinus angustifolia''/ref>Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and E ...
''
Vahl – narrow-leaved ash
** ''
Fraxinus angustifolia
''Fraxinus angustifolia'', the narrow-leaved ash, is a species of ''Fraxinus'' native to central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia.Flora Europaea''Fraxinus angustifolia''/ref>Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and E ...
'' subsp. ''oxycarpa''
– Caucasian ash
** ''
Fraxinus angustifolia
''Fraxinus angustifolia'', the narrow-leaved ash, is a species of ''Fraxinus'' native to central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia.Flora Europaea''Fraxinus angustifolia''/ref>Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and E ...
'' subsp. ''syriaca''
* ''
Fraxinus excelsior
''Fraxinus excelsior'', known as the ash, or European ash or common ash to distinguish it from other types of ash, is a flowering plant species in the olive family Oleaceae. It is native throughout mainland Europe east to the Caucasus and Albor ...
''
L. – European ash
* ''
Fraxinus holotricha''
Koehne
* ''
Fraxinus mandshurica''
Rupr. – Manchurian ash
* ''
Fraxinus nigra
''Fraxinus nigra'', the black ash, is a species of ash native to much of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, from western Newfoundland west to southeastern Manitoba, and south to Illinois and northern Virginia. Formerly abundant, ...
''
Marshall – black ash
* ''
Fraxinus pallisiae''
Wilmott – Pallis' ash
* ''
Fraxinus sogdiana''
; Section ''Melioides sensu lato
* ''
Fraxinus chiisanensis''
* ''
Fraxinus cuspidata''
Torr. – fragrant ash
* ''
Fraxinus platypoda
''Fraxinus platypoda'' (syn. ''Fraxinus spaethiana''), the Chinese red ash, is a species of flowering plant in the family Oleaceae, native to central China, and Japan. In the latter stages of succession it often dominates the mountain riparian fo ...
''
* ''
Fraxinus spaethiana
''Fraxinus platypoda'' (syn. ''Fraxinus spaethiana''), the Chinese red ash, is a species of flowering plant in the family Oleaceae, native to central China, and Japan. In the latter stages of succession it often dominates the mountain riparian f ...
''
Lingelsh. – Späth's ash
; Section ''Melioides sensu stricto
* ''
Fraxinus albicans
''Fraxinus albicans'', commonly called the Texas ash, is a species of tree in the olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to North America, where it is found from eastern Texas and southern Oklahoma in the United States, to the state of Durango in ...
''
Buckley – Texas ash
* ''
Fraxinus americana
''Fraxinus americana'', the white ash or American ash, is a species of ''ash tree'' native to eastern and central North America.
The species is native to mesophytic hardwood forests from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, south to northern Florida, ...
''
L. – white ash or American ash
* ''
Fraxinus berlandieriana''
DC. – Mexican ash
* ''
Fraxinus caroliniana''
Mill. – Carolina ash
* ''
Fraxinus latifolia''
Benth. – Oregon ash
* ''
Fraxinus papillosa
''Fraxinus papillosa'', the Chihuahuan ash, is a species of flowering plant in the family Oleaceae, native to the deserts of Mexico and the southwestern United States. A small tree, it usually is found growing in canyon bottoms and on north-faci ...
''
Lingelsh. – Chihuahua ash
* ''
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
''Fraxinus pennsylvanica'', the green ash or red ash, is a species of ash native to eastern and central North America, from Nova Scotia west to southeastern Alberta and eastern Colorado, south to northern Florida, and southwest to Oklahoma an ...
''
Marshall – green ash
* ''
Fraxinus profunda''
(Bush) Bush – pumpkin ash
* ''
Fraxinus uhdei''
(Wenz.) Lingelsh. – Shamel ash or tropical ash
* ''
Fraxinus velutina''
Torr. – velvet ash or Arizona ash
; Section ''Ornus''
* ''
Fraxinus apertisquamifera''
* ''
Fraxinus baroniana''
* ''
Fraxinus bungeana''
DC. – Bunge's ash
* ''
Fraxinus chinensis''
Roxb. – Chinese ash or Korean ash
* ''
Fraxinus floribunda''
Wall. – Himalayan manna ash
* ''
Fraxinus griffithii
''Fraxinus griffithii'', the Himalayan ash or evergreen ash is a species of flowering tree. The natural habitat includes the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Taiwan, China, Bangladesh and India. This plant is commonly grown as an ornam ...
''
C.B.Clarke – Griffith's ash
* ''
Fraxinus insularis''
Hemsl. – Chinese flowering ash
* ''
Fraxinus japonica
''Fraxinus'' (), commonly called ash, is a genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genu ...
''
– Japanese ash
* ''
Fraxinus lanuginosa
''Fraxinus lanuginosa'' (Japanese ash; Japanese language, Japanese: アオダモ Aodamo) is a species of ash tree, ash native to Japan and to the Primorye region of eastern Russia.
''Fraxinus lanuginosa''is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing ...
'' – Japanese ash
* ''
Fraxinus longicuspis
''Fraxinus longicuspis'' (syn. ''Fraxinus pubinervis''), the taper-tip ash or Japanese ash (a name it shares with other members of its genus), is a species of flowering plant in the family Oleaceae, native to the mountains of central and southern ...
''
* ''
Fraxinus malacophylla
''Fraxinus malacophylla'' is a species of ash tree native to China, where it is found in Guangxi and Yunnan
Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has ...
''
* ''
Fraxinus micrantha''
Lingelsh.
* ''
Fraxinus ornus''
L. – manna ash or flowering ash
* ''
Fraxinus paxiana
''Fraxinus paxiana'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Oleaceae, native to central and southern China. A tree reaching , it is found in forested valley slopes, usually from above sea level. In the wild it is heavily infected with ''H ...
''
Lingelsh.
* ''
Fraxinus sieboldiana''
Blume – Japanese flowering ash
; Section ''Pauciflorae''
* ''
Fraxinus dubia
''Fraxinus dubia'' is a plant species native to Mexico and Central America. It has been reported from Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Chiapas and Veracruz.
''Fraxinus dubia'' is a tree up to 11 m (37 feet) tall. Leaves are thick, evergr ...
''
* ''
Fraxinus gooddingii
''Fraxinus gooddingii'', the Tiburón ash or Goodding's ash, is a tree native to Sonora and southern Arizona. It is reported from Cochise and Santa Cruz Counties in Arizona, and from numerous locations in Sonora (including Isla Tiburón, Shark ...
''
– Goodding's ash
* ''
Fraxinus greggii''
A.Gray – Gregg's ash
* ''
Fraxinus purpusii''
* ''
Fraxinus rufescens''
; Section ''Sciadanthus''
* ''
Fraxinus dimorpha''
* ''
Fraxinus hubeiensis''
Ch'u & Shang & Su – 湖北梣, ''Hubei qin''
* ''
Fraxinus xanthoxyloides''
(G.Don) Wall. ex DC. – Afghan ash
File:EurAshSeeds.jpg, Closeup of European ash seeds
File:Fraxinus ornus JPG1b.jpg, ''F. ornus''
File:Treelets on fallen Ash tree.JPG, Unusual "treelets" growing from a fallen ash tree in Lawthorn Wood, Ayrshire, Scotland
Ecology
North American native ash tree species are a critical food source for North American frogs, as their fallen leaves are particularly suitable for tadpoles to feed upon in ponds (both temporary and permanent), large puddles, and other water bodies.
Lack of tannins in the American ash makes their leaves a good food source for the frogs, but also reduces its resistance to the
ash borer. Species with higher leaf
tannin
Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.
The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'' ...
levels (including maples and non-native ash species) are taking the place of native ash, thanks to their greater resistance to the ash borer. They produce much less suitable food for the tadpoles, resulting in poor survival rates and small frog sizes.
Ash species native to North America also provide important habit and food for various other creatures native to North America. This includes the larvae of multiple long-horn beetles, as well as other insects including those in the genus
Tropidosteptes
''Tropidosteptes'' is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae. There are at least 30 described species in ''Tropidosteptes''.
Species
References
Further reading
*
*
*
Miridae genera
Mirini
{{Miridae-stub ...
, lace bugs, aphids, larvae of gall flies, and caterpillars. Birds are also interested in black, green, and white ash trees. The black ash alone supports wood ducks, wild turkey, cardinals, pine grosbeaks, cedar waxwings, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers, with habitat and food (such as the sap being of interest to the sapsucker) among others. Many mammalian species from meadow voles eating the seeds to white-tailed deer eating the foliage to silver-haired bats nesting will also make use of ash trees.
Ash is used as a
food plant by the
larvae of some
Lepidoptera species (
butterflies and
moth
Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...
s).
Threats
North America
![Agrilus planipennis 001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Agrilus_planipennis_001.jpg)
The
emerald ash borer
The emerald ash borer (''Agrilus planipennis''), also known by the acronym EAB, is a green buprestid or jewel beetle native to north-eastern Asia that feeds on ash species. Females lay eggs in bark crevices on ash trees, and larvae feed undern ...
(''Agrilus planipennis''), also called EAB, is a wood-boring
beetle
Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...
accidentally introduced to North America from eastern Asia via solid wood packing material in the late 1980s to early 1990s. It has killed tens of millions of trees in 22 states in the United States and adjacent
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
and
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
in Canada. It threatens some seven billion ash trees in North America. Research is being conducted to determine if three native Asian wasps that are natural predators of EAB could be used as a
biological control
Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also i ...
for the management of EAB populations in the United States. The public is being cautioned not to transport unfinished wood products, such as firewood, to slow the spread of this insect pest.
Damage occurs when emerald ash borer larvae feed on the inner bark,
phloem
Phloem (, ) is the living tissue in vascular plants that transports the soluble organic compounds made during photosynthesis and known as ''photosynthates'', in particular the sugar sucrose, to the rest of the plant. This transport process is c ...
, inside branches and tree trunks. Feeding on the phloem prevents nutrients and water transportation. If the ash is attacked, the branches can die and eventually the whole tree can as well. Ways to detect
emerald ash borer
The emerald ash borer (''Agrilus planipennis''), also known by the acronym EAB, is a green buprestid or jewel beetle native to north-eastern Asia that feeds on ash species. Females lay eggs in bark crevices on ash trees, and larvae feed undern ...
infestation include seeing bark peeling off, vertical cracks in the bark, seeing galleries within the tree that contain powdery substance, and D-shaped exit holes on the branches or trunk. Not all of these may be present, but any of these warning signs could be an indication of possible infestation.
Europe
The European ash, ''
Fraxinus excelsior
''Fraxinus excelsior'', known as the ash, or European ash or common ash to distinguish it from other types of ash, is a flowering plant species in the olive family Oleaceae. It is native throughout mainland Europe east to the Caucasus and Albor ...
'', has been affected by the
fungus
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from t ...
''
Hymenoscyphus fraxineus'', causing
ash dieback in a large number of trees since the mid-1990s, particularly in eastern and northern Europe. The disease has infected about 90% of Denmark's ash trees.
At the end of October 2012 in the UK, the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reported that ash dieback had been discovered in mature woodland in
Suffolk; previous occurrences had been on young trees imported from Europe. In 2016, the ash tree was reported as in danger of extinction in Europe.
Uses
Ash is a
hardwood and is dense (within 20% of 670 kg/m
3 for ''
Fraxinus americana
''Fraxinus americana'', the white ash or American ash, is a species of ''ash tree'' native to eastern and central North America.
The species is native to mesophytic hardwood forests from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, south to northern Florida, ...
'',
and higher at 710 kg/m
3 for ''
Fraxinus excelsior
''Fraxinus excelsior'', known as the ash, or European ash or common ash to distinguish it from other types of ash, is a flowering plant species in the olive family Oleaceae. It is native throughout mainland Europe east to the Caucasus and Albor ...
''
),
tough and very
strong but
elastic, extensively used for making
bows,
tool
A tool is an object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many animals use simple tools, only human beings, whose use of stone tools dates ba ...
handles,
baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the sport of baseball to hit the ball after it is thrown by the pitcher. By regulation it may be no more than in diameter at the thickest part and no more than in length. Although histor ...
s,
hurleys, and other uses demanding high strength and
resilience.
![Flamed Quartersawn Ash Guitar Top](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Flamed_Quartersawn_Ash_Guitar_Top.jpg)
Ash, particularly
swamp ash
Swamp ash is a common name for several North American trees in the genus ''Fraxinus'' which may grow in swamps and other wetlands. The wood of swamp ashes is relatively low in density and is used in the construction of musical instruments, particu ...
because of its figure, is a choice of
material
Material is a substance or mixture of substances that constitutes an object. Materials can be pure or impure, living or non-living matter. Materials can be classified on the basis of their physical and chemical properties, or on their geolo ...
for
electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gu ...
bodies and, less commonly, for
acoustic guitar bodies, known for its bright, cutting edge and sustaining quality. Some
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, colloquially known as the Strat, is a model of electric guitar designed from 1952 into 1954 by Leo Fender, Bill Carson, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares. The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has continuousl ...
s and
Telecasters are made of ash, (such as
Bruce Springsteen's Telecaster on the ''
Born to Run
''Born to Run'' is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on August 25, 1975, by Columbia Records. As his effort to break into the mainstream, the album was a commercial success, peaking at number three ...
'' album cover), as an alternative to alder.
Ash is a
Tonewood
Tonewood refers to specific wood varieties that possess tonal properties that make them good choices for use in woodwind or acoustic stringed instruments.
Varieties of tonewood
As a rough generalization it can be said that stiff-but-light softwood ...
commonly used in the manufacture of
electric guitars
An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gu ...
. It exhibits a pronounced bright tone with a scooped midrange. It's lightweight, easy to work and sand, accepts glue,
stain, paint and
finish very well and is inexpensive. All this has made it a favourite of large factories mass producing instruments. The Fender musical instrument company has been continuously and uninterruptedly using Ash to make electric guitars since 1956.
Swamp ash
Swamp ash is a common name for several North American trees in the genus ''Fraxinus'' which may grow in swamps and other wetlands. The wood of swamp ashes is relatively low in density and is used in the construction of musical instruments, particu ...
is used a lot in guitar building because of its figure. It is a choice of
material
Material is a substance or mixture of substances that constitutes an object. Materials can be pure or impure, living or non-living matter. Materials can be classified on the basis of their physical and chemical properties, or on their geolo ...
for
electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gu ...
bodies and, less commonly, for
acoustic guitar bodies, known for its bright, cutting edge and sustaining quality. Some
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, colloquially known as the Strat, is a model of electric guitar designed from 1952 into 1954 by Leo Fender, Bill Carson, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares. The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has continuousl ...
s and
Telecasters are made of ash, (such as
Bruce Springsteen's Telecaster on the ''
Born to Run
''Born to Run'' is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on August 25, 1975, by Columbia Records. As his effort to break into the mainstream, the album was a commercial success, peaking at number three ...
'' album cover), as an alternative to alder.
Ash is also used for making
drum shells.
![Ash_Table_by_Ben_Barclay](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Ash_Table_by_Ben_Barclay.jpg)
Woodworkers generally consider ash a "poor cousin" to the other major open pore wood, oak, but it is useful in any furniture application. Ash
veneers are extensively used in office furniture. Ash is not used much outdoors due to the
heartwood
Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...
having a low durability to ground contact, meaning it will typically perish within five years. The ''F. japonica'' species is favored as a material for making baseball bats by Japanese sporting-goods manufacturers.
Its robust structure, good looks, and flexibility combine to make ash ideal for staircases. Ash stairs are extremely hard-wearing, which is particularly important for treads. Due to its elasticity, ash can also be steamed and bent to produce curved stair parts such as volutes (curled sections of handrail) and intricately shaped balusters. However, a reduction in the supply of healthy trees, especially in Europe, is making ash an increasingly expensive option.
Ash was commonly used for the structural members of the bodies of cars made by carriage builders. Early cars had frames which were intended to flex as part of the suspension system to simplify construction. The
Morgan Motor Company
The Morgan Motor Company is a British motor car manufacturer owned by Italian investment group Investindustrial. It was founded in 1910 by Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan.
Morgan is based in Malvern Link, an area of Malvern, and employs a ...
of Great Britain still manufactures sports cars with frames made from ash. It was also widely used by early aviation pioneers for aircraft construction.
It
lights and burns easily, so is used for starting fires and
barbecues, and is usable for maintaining a fire, though it produces only a moderate heat. The two most economically important species for wood production are white ash, in eastern North America, and European ash in Europe. The green ash (''
F. pennsylvanica'') is widely planted as a street tree in the United States. The inner bark of the blue ash (''
F. quadrangulata'') has been used as a source for blue
dye.
In Sicily, Italy, sugars are obtained by evaporating the sap of the
manna ash
Manna ( he, מָן, mān, ; ar, اَلْمَنُّ; sometimes or archaically spelled mana) is, according to the Bible, an edible substance which God provided for the Israelites during their travels in the desert during the 40-year period follow ...
, extracted by making small cuts in the bark.The manna ash, native to southern Europe and southwest Asia, produces a blue-green sap, which has medicinal value as a mild laxative, demulcent, and weak expectorant.
The young seedpods of Ash trees, also known as "keys," are edible for human consumption. In Britain, they are traditionally pickled with vinegar, sugar and spices.
Mythology and folklore
In
Greek mythology
A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the origin and nature of the world, the lives and activities ...
, the
Meliae
In Greek mythology, the Meliae (also called Meliads) (; grc, Μελίαι, or , ) were usually considered to be the nymphs of the ash tree, whose name they shared.
Mythology
According to Hesiod, the Meliae (probably meaning all tree-nymphs) w ...
are
nymph
A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label= Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are ...
s associated with the ash, perhaps specifically of the manna ash (''
Fraxinus ornus''), as
dryad
A dryad (; el, Δρυάδες, ''sing''.: ) is a tree nymph or tree spirit in Greek mythology. ''Drys'' (δρῦς) signifies " oak" in Greek, and dryads were originally considered the nymphs of oak trees specifically, but the term has evolved t ...
s were nymphs associated with the
oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
. They appear in
Hesiod
Hesiod (; grc-gre, Ἡσίοδος ''Hēsíodos'') was an ancient Greek poet generally thought to have been active between 750 and 650 BC, around the same time as Homer. He is generally regarded by western authors as 'the first written poet ...
's ''Theogony.''
In
Norse mythology, a vast, evergreen ash tree
Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil (from Old Norse ), in Norse cosmology, is an immense and central sacred tree. Around it exists all else, including the Nine Worlds.
Yggdrasil is attested in the ''Poetic Edda'' compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional ...
("the steed (
gallows
A gallows (or scaffold) is a frame or elevated beam, typically wooden, from which objects can be suspended (i.e., hung) or "weighed". Gallows were thus widely used to suspend public weighing scales for large and heavy objects such as sacks ...
) of
Odin"), watered by three magical springs, serves as
axis mundi, sustaining the nine worlds of the
cosmos
The cosmos (, ) is another name for the Universe. Using the word ''cosmos'' implies viewing the universe as a complex and orderly system or entity.
The cosmos, and understandings of the reasons for its existence and significance, are studied in ...
in its roots and branches. ''
Askr'', the first man in Norse myth, literally means 'ash'.
In
Italian folklore
Folklore of Italy refers to the folklore and urban legends of Italy. Within the Italian territory, various peoples have followed one another over time, each of which has left its mark on current culture. Some tales also come from Christianizat ...
, an ash stake could be used to kill a
vampire
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deat ...
.
See also
*
List of Lepidoptera that feed on ashes
Ashes (''Fraxinus'' species) are used as food plants by the larvae (caterpillars) of a number of Lepidoptera species, including the following. (Unless otherwise stated, records are from the Nearctic region.)
425px, ''Fraxinus americana''
Adelida ...
*
Æ, the letter ash
References
External links
Cofrin Center for Biodiversity Herbarium, University of Wisconsin, Trees of Wisconsin, ''Fraxinus'' comparison chart
*
{{Authority control
Oleaceae genera
Trees
Medicinal plants