European ash
Fraxinus excelsior
- Description: Deciduous tree, 40 meter tall. The bark of young trees is grey and smooth. The older trees are grey-brown, furrowed.
- Leaves: Odd-pinnate opposite leaves with 8 – 13 leaflets coarsely serrated margins; the right side of the leaves is villous, the reverse side is bright,
green and bald. - Flowers: The simple, purple, small, diclinous and hermaphrodite flowers are arranged in numerous panicles at the end of the branches. The European ash flowers before the frondescence during
March-April. - Use: Its wood is used for furniture, parquets,
musical instruments, sport tools. It is planted as an ornamental tree too in parks, as makes several variants with colourful leaves. - Habitat: In Slovakia it makes significant part of the hard riparian and scree woodlands.
- Growing conditions: The tree requires humid soil
and enough nutrients, especially nitrogen. - Fruits: Bright brown, narrow, ablong, winged achenes.