Ash
Fraxinus spp.
Family: Oleaceae
American Ash
Ash (Fraxinus sp.) is composed of 40 to 70 species, with 21 in Central and North America and 50 species in Eurasia. All species look alike microscopically. The name fraxinus is the classical Latin name for ash.
Distribution: The north temperate regions of the globe.
The Tree: Ashes are trees or shrubs with large, opposite, pinnately compound leaves, which are shed in the fall. The compound leaves have 2 to 11 leaflets. The flowers can be bisexual or there can be distinct male and female flowers on separate trees. The flowers have no petals and the fruits are dry with a flattened wing.
The Wood: The sapwood of ash is light brown, while the heartwood is brown to grayish brown. White as and Oregon ash have lighter heartwood than the other commercial species. The width of the sapwood is 3 to 6 inches. It is ring porous, with the latewood being composed of parenchyma which surrounds and unites the latewood pores in tangential bands. It has no characteristic odor or taste.
Working Properties: Ash is straight grained, heavy, hard, strong, stiff and wears smooth with high shock resistance. It machines well and is better than average in nail and screw holding capacity. It glues moderately well. Black, green, Pumpkin and Blue ashes have lower specific gravities and lower strength properties, but are still moderately strong, hard, and stiff compared to other native hardwoods. They also split easier, shrink more, are average in workability and perform less well in service.
Durability: Classed as slightly to non-resistant to heartwood decay.
Preservation: No information available at this time.
Uses: Handle stock, baseball bats, unupholstered furniture, flooring, millwork, hand tools, sporting goods, boxes and crates.
Toxicity: No information available at this time.
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