Fraxinus angustifolia

Fraxinus angustifolia
Foliage of subsp. oxycarpa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Oleaceae
Genus: Fraxinus
Species: F. angustifolia
Binomial name
Fraxinus angustifolia
Vahl
Distribution map
Synonyms
Fraxinus angustifolia - MHNT

Fraxinus angustifolia (narrow-leafed ash) is a species of Fraxinus native to central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia.[1][2]

Description

It is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 20–30 m tall with a trunk up to 1.5 m diameter. The bark is smooth and pale grey on young trees, becoming square-cracked and knobbly on old trees. The buds are pale brown, which readily distinguishes it from the related Fraxinus excelsior (black buds) even in winter. The leaves are in opposite pairs or whorls of three, pinnate, 15–25 cm long, with 3-13 leaflets; the leaflets being distinctively slender, 3–8 cm long and 1-1.5 cm broad. The flowers are produced in inflorescences which can be male, hermaphrodite or mixed male and hermaphrodite. The male and hermaphrodite flowers occur on all individuals, i.e. all trees are functionally hermaphrodite. Flowering occurs in early spring. The fruit when fully formed is a samara 3–4 cm long, the seed 1.5–2 cm long with a pale brown wing 1.5–2 cm long.[2][3][4][5]

Fraxinus angustifolia inflorescence

Variation

There are four subspecies, treated as distinct species by some authors:[1][2]

Cultivars

of Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. angustifolia

of Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa

Uses

In Sicily, it is cultivated as a source of a plant sap product called manna (see Fraxinus ornus).[6]

Weed potential

Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. angustifolia has become a weed in many parts of Australia, where it is known as Desert Ash. It has been widely planted as a street and park tree, and has spread to native bushland and grasslands, as well as stream banks and drainage lines, out-competing native plants for moisture, light and nutrients.[7][8]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fraxinus angustifolia.

References

  1. 1 2 Flora Europaea: Fraxinus angustifolia
  2. 1 2 3 Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
  3. Mitchell, A. F. (1974). A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-212035-6
  4. Mitchell, A. F. (1982). The Trees of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-219037-0
  5. Bean, W. J. (1978). Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles 8th ed., vol. 2. John Murray ISBN 0-7195-2256-0.
  6. Production of manna in Sicily (visited December 21, 2009)
  7. 1 2 "Desert ash". Weeds Australia. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  8. "Desert Ash" (PDF). Shire of Yarra Ranges. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
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