Ash trees (Fraxinus) are a plant genus in the olive family (Oleaceae). Three species are native to Europe: the common ash (Fraxinus excelsior), the manna ash (Fraxinus ornus), and the narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia).
Fraxinus species are mainly found in the temperate to subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The genus contains 45–65 species of medium to large trees, mostly deciduous, though a number of subtropical species are evergreen. It is widespread across much of Europe, Asia, and North America.
Fraxinus excelsior can reach up to 40 meters in height as a mature tree and can live for 250 years or more.
Fraxinus excelsior, known as the European ash or common ash
The leaves are opposite (rarely in whorls of three) and mostly pinnately compound, though simple in a few species. The seeds, popularly known as "keys" or "helicopter seeds", are a type of winged fruit known as a samara.
Many bird species rely on ash trees for food and shelter. Black ash alone supports wood ducks, wild turkeys, cardinals, pine grosbeaks, cedar waxwings, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers (which feed on its sap). Various mammals, from seed-eating meadow voles to foliage-browsing white-tailed deer and nesting silver-haired bats, also utilize ash trees as a crucial habitat.
Fraxinus ornus, the manna ash or South European flowering ash
Ash produces a heavy, ring-porous hardwood characterized by high strength and elasticity. However, when exposed to the elements, it offers low durability unless treated. Ash wood is widely used solid or as a veneer in interior architecture and furniture manufacturing.
Specialized applications include tool handles and sports equipment such as sleds, baseball bats, and snooker cues. Historically, ash timber was also used to craft longbows, wagon wheels, and masts, booms, or tillers in shipbuilding.
Ash is also valued as a tonewood in musical instrument manufacturing, particularly for drum shells and solid-body electric guitars and basses.
Disclaimer: This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles Fraxinus, Fraxinus excelsior, and Fraxinus ornus (contributors), which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.