Common Ash / European Ash - Fraxinus excelsior

Habitat

• native to Europe

Habit and Form

• a large deciduous tree

• 60' to 80' tall

• dense rounded crown

• medium texture

• fast growth rate

Summer Foliage

• opposite leaf arrangement

• odd, pinnately compound leaves

• leaves are up to 1' long

• leaves contain 7 to 11 leaflets

• leaflets are ovate shaped

• leaflets are 2" to 4" long

• serrated leaf margins

• pubescent

• medium green leaf color

Flowers

• greenish flowers

• bloom in spring

• not showy

Fruit

• female plants produce samaras

• samara is green and elongated

• 1" to 2" long

• clustered in bunches

• turn brown in winter

• persist

Bark

• branches low on trunk

• grayish brown bark

Therapeutic effect:

Fraxinus spp. – ash (olive family - Oleaceae)

Lot of species of the ash has majority in the forests of Hungary, and most of these species has medical effect. The has diuretic effect and it’s decrease the concentration of the uric acid. The manna has a slight laxative effect. Bark of the thinner branches is used for tea making against rheumatism and joint pains.

Sponsors:

Ministry of National Resources

University of Szeged

KEFAG Zrt.

Future of Europe Association