Commonest
on base rich soil. On the limestone of the Peak
District it is found in place names such as Monyash.
It's leaves emerge late and fall early; one result
of this is a rich ground flora in Ash woods. It's
compound, pinnate leaves are often confused with
other trees with the same leaf form (such as Rowan,
Black Walnut, Tree of Heaven and Elder) but its
black opposite buds are diagnostic.
NATIVE
- Prefers damp, calcareous soil. Tall domed crown
trunk often forks. Lower branches sweep up but twigs
bend down..
Bark - Smooth and grey, later vertically
fissured
TIMBER -
Course grained, white. Absorbs shock.
TWIG
- Grey green with paler lenticels.
BUDS
- Matt black paired on flattened twig. Larger terminal
bud.
LEAVES
- Pinnate with one terminal and 3-7 opposite prs
of pointed ovate leaflets, terminal pr the largest.
Margins with regular forward pointing teeth 6-8
prs of side veins curve to apex. Glabrous above
- wooly hairs either side of the paler midrib below.
Green even in autumn. Green, lightly grooved petiole.
FLOWERS
- Before the leaves. No petals. All male (each with
two stamens) or all female with longer stalks bearing
flask shaped pistils or mixed. Many trees bear both
sexes but on seperate twigs.
FRUIT
- Bunches of 'keys'. seed at stalk end of twisted
notched wing. Brown by autumn oten persist.
USES
-Wheel rims, ladder rungs, tool handles, oars, hockey
sticks, tennis rackets and billiard cues.
*Special thanks
to Patrick Harding and Gill Tomblin for their help
with this feature.
