- Species: Fraxinus excelsior
- Family: Oleaceae
- Origin: Europe
- Common Name: Ash
- Mature Height: - m.
The Common Ash, is a good indicator of
alkaline
soils. It occurs throughout Europe (including Britain) and eastward to
the Caucasus and into North Africa . Fraxinus excelsior belongs to the
olive family - Oleaceae. Pure ashwoods are rare in Scotland but there
are two: Rassall ashwood at the head of Loch Kishorn in Wester Ross and
at Tokavaig on Skye. Fraxinus excelsior, and some of its selected
forms, have been widely planted in parks, for they can withstand some
pollution. It is also an important timber tree for the wood does not
splinter on impact, is hard and dense and so is used for industrial and
sport handles and oars. The wood can be bent so it is valuable for
making furniture. The tree allegedly has had mystical properties to
ward off evil spirits and is sometimes called the 'Venus of the
Woods'..
