“I asked the ash tree where my beloved is...” sings the hero of one of the most popular and beloved films by viewers. Have you ever wondered what kind of tree is ash? What does it look like and where does it grow? Maybe it is growing right under your window, and you don’t even know about it? Let's try to figure it out.
Description of the tree
To know what it's about we're talking about, you need to understand what an ash tree looks like. It is extremely beautiful, first of all, thanks to its leaves, which are so thin and delicate that you can see the sun's rays through them. Light penetrates through the leaf, which is why the tree has such a cute name. According to Dahl's dictionary, the word "ash" comes from "light, clear."
Ash - deciduous tree, so it changes its leaves every year. In general, there are about 60 breeds of this plant in the world, the largest of them is white ash. This is a very powerful tree. Its leaves resemble bird feathers with a symmetrical structure.
The ash tree blooms its flowers even earlier than its leaves. Dark brown or purple flowers are collected in bunches of several pieces. Most often they do not have a corolla and a calyx, but there are several stamens, which are distinctive feature tree.
It’s better to see once than to hear many times, so it’s worth taking a close look at the photographs, which will show better than any words what ash really is.
Growing environment
Ash loves moist, spacious places with a warm climate. It can often be found near various reservoirs, rivers and other places with high humidity. As for the terrain, of course, you will not find it in places with a sharply continental climate, because it is very thermophilic.
Many ash trees can be seen in Ukraine, Moldova and the Caucasus. It can be found in Crimea, Asia Minor and the European part of Russia. Most often, ash grows in mixed forests, he likes to be next to alder. It is also found in large clearings and clearings where there is a lot of sunlight. No wonder people fell in love with the ash tree. Where it grows is always the sunniest place, and there is water nearby.
Mythological ash
This tree has been loved by man since ancient times. Many ancient people even believed that their ancestor was the ash tree. A description of this interesting judgment can be found in the poet’s poem Ancient Greece Hesiod's Works and Days. It is on the pages of his work that it is said how the ancient Greek gods found two trees: ash and alder - and created from them, respectively, a man and a woman, endowing them with body, soul, feelings and mind. Even in the paradise of Ancient Greece, ash continues to live and delight those who come to this place with its beauty.
In Lithuania, this tree symbolizes a righteous and pure life. Ash appears in Lithuanian fairy tales, legends and stories. In addition, many peoples treated ash very favorably, loving and honoring this tree. Perhaps only the oak tree surpassed him in power, but not in beauty.
Why do we love ash so much?
It is not for nothing that the ash tree has been distinguished among others from time immemorial. There are many reasons for this. The first, very important one is its beauty and nobility. Ash trees were planted where it was necessary to give a noticeable and extraordinary appearance to a city, village or town. Alleys and parks were planted with ash trees, so that later, walking along them, one could enjoy their beauty. This plant has always been deservedly considered and is considered a valuable tree species.
In addition to its external beauty, ash is popular because of its resistance to frost, the negative external effects of poor environmental conditions, exhaust gases, and soil compaction. It is planted along roads.
In addition to the above advantages, ash is widely used in folk medicine. He is calmed down with a decoction nervous system, treat dysentery, gout. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties, is indispensable for rheumatism, kidney stones, arthritis and is an excellent diuretic.
In spring, ash, like birch, produces delicious sweet sap that can replace sugar for diabetics.
Ash is also loved for its wood, which is very strong and elastic. Since ancient times, warriors made weapons, bows, spears and clubs from it, which withstood military campaigns, participating in even the most difficult battles. In Rus', dishes, rockers, hoops and even wheels were made from it. Modern athletes also use sports equipment made from ash: excellent quality skis, racing oars and gymnastic bars.
Furniture made from this wood is simply magnificent. This wood is easy to process, polishes well and hardly deforms during use. Its fiber pattern is very beautiful, it’s not for nothing that it’s this one tree species was chosen for the furniture of the Kremlin Palace.
Ash fruits
The ash tree begins to bear fruit in mature age- 20-30 years. Its fruits are called lionfish and are especially striking in winter, when they are not blocked by leaves. Every year, ash trees are literally strewn with seeds, which bullfinches and other birds, as well as mice, feast on. Even horses are fed lionfish, primarily because they are very nutritious and contain a lot of protein.
Many people also use ash fruits for food. For example, in England they are collected and pickled, thereby making an appetizer for main courses. In the Caucasus, lionfish are also prepared in a similar way. The result is a spicy, tasty seasoning that has valuable properties and contains vitamins. In general, ash is a relative of the olive (the Ash genus belongs to the Olive family), so you shouldn’t be surprised why its fruits are so tasty.
Growing Ash
Ash is a tree species that is very sun-loving, so you should choose places with good access for planting it. sun rays. The soil should not contain a lot of salts and should not be too wet. Also, ash trees do not like to be planted too densely, so you should take care of this in advance by planting the trees at a distance of at least 5 meters from each other. Before planting, the tree should be kept in water and then watered regularly for the first 3 days. If the summer is dry, it is advisable to water regularly, otherwise watering twice a day throughout the summer is sufficient.
In order for the tree to grow beautiful and healthy, it is advisable to feed it with various fertilizers and timely treat it against harmful insects. If you follow all these rules, it will grow powerful and tall.
Conclusion
Look at the ash tree, the photo of which is presented below.
Isn't it great? You can relax in its shade, enjoying the coolness; you can make many useful and necessary things from its wood; it will help improve your health and allow you to taste delicious and unusual snack from fruits. You can also talk to an ash tree like you would your best friend. Which, incidentally, is what the hero from the Soviet film beloved by millions of people did.
Ash is an amazing tree. It brightens the world around it, it’s not for nothing that its Russian name comes from the word “clear”... Ash lets in a lot of sun, and its forests are airy, it’s easy to breathe in them, they are overflowing with light.
In the beliefs of many peoples, ash is the tree of the world axis and symbolizes the divine nature of humanity.
In the minds of our ancestors, ash is a tree that connects the world of people and gods, personifying the connection between the past and the future. Ash fruits collected in clusters are like a bunch of keys that can be used to open the door to the future. This is a tree of rebirth and renewal.
In Ancient Greece, ash was considered a symbol of fair retribution, which is probably why the goddess of memory and fair retribution Nemesis was most often depicted by artists with an ash branch in her hand. And the ancient Greek poet Hesiod (VIII-VII centuries BC) in his poem “Works and Days” says that Zeus created the third race of people of the Copper Age from the shaft of a spear, which the ancient Greek gunsmiths carved from ash wood. The people turned out to be harsh, since they were given a warlike spirit, which the ash tree absorbed.
In Ancient Greece, ash was also the sacred tree of Poseidon, the god of the sea and brother of Zeus. This cult turned out to be so tenacious that even immigrants in the 19th century, when moving to America, took ash bark with them so as not to drown.
And in Ancient Greece, the cult of the nymphs Melia - the spirits of the ash tree - was equally widespread. The same Hesiod said that these nymphs appeared from drops of the blood of the sky god Uranus.
Ash is the tree of Peace, purity and light among the Scandinavians; ash branches, according to their ancient beliefs, are a stairway to Heaven.
The Vikings called each other Esklings, that is, “people of the ash tree.” They drew their runes on ash planks. Among the Celts, this is the tree of Odin and at the same time goes back to female deities.
One of the American Indian legends says that the first people appeared on an ash tree. An ancient Lithuanian legend tells that when the gods descended to earth to decide the destinies of people, they gathered in the shade of a spreading ash tree.
Common ash - Fraximus excelsior L.- tall tree with a wide oval openwork crown from the olive family. The ash tree has a powerful root system, without tap root. Straight, slender trunk up to 25-45 meters high. The bark on the trunk and old branches is gray and smooth. Young shoots are yellow-gray or greenish. The branches are straight, thick and poorly branched. The buds are black and velvety. The leaves are dark green above, lighter below, odd-pinnate, consisting of several leaflets and quite large, up to 40 cm long. Even in late leaf fall they often remain green.
Common ash blooms in late April - early May, before the leaves appear. The flowers are dark brown or purple, collected in tight panicles, odorless, pollinated by the wind. Female and male flowers are most often found on the same tree.
The fruits are oblong-elliptical lionfish, with a notch at the top and rounded at the base, up to 4 - 4.6 cm long. The oblong, flat nut occupies approximately half the length of the lionfish. The fruits ripen in large quantities in September-October and often remain in the crown all winter, falling only in early spring.
Ash grows quickly. Fruits from 15-17 years of age. Lives 250-300 years. An adult ash tree can tolerate frost of 40 degrees, and a young tree can be damaged by late spring frosts. This beautiful tree, like an ash tree, will decorate any village, as well as the streets and squares of megacities.
In the wild, ash grows throughout the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Crimea, Moldova, Central Asia, prefers to grow on moist, fertile, neutral or similar soils, in floodplains.
Ash has long been used in traditional medicine. The leaves are collected in the first half of summer in dry weather, slightly withered in the sun and dried in the shade. The bark is harvested during sap flow from trees to be cut down. It is cut into pieces 10-15 cm long and dried in the sun.
Ash leaves contain vitamin C, carotene, rutin, organic acids and their salts, carbohydrates, sucrose, starch, phosphorus, coumarins, and tannins. The bark contains glucose, sucrose, sorbitol, bitter phenols, resin, and gums. The fruits contain vitamins C, P, B1, fats, and protein.
The ancient Greeks and Germans believed that ash tree juice could heal a person bitten by a snake. The famous Roman physician Quintus Serenus Samonicus in the 3rd century AD in his “Medical Book” wrote about the use of ash seeds to treat dropsy, cough, and liver diseases.
Preparations from ash have antimicrobial, antipyretic, hemostatic, tonic, astringent, antispasmodic, antitussive and anthelmintic effects. Ash leaves and bark are used to treat diseases of the liver, intestines, urinary organs, diseases respiratory tract, rheumatism, radiculitis, arthritis and as a wound healing agent. Ash seeds were used to treat dropsy, cough, and liver diseases.
Kinesiology, a branch of alternative medicine that appeared in the 70-90s of the last century, uses ash to restore harmony of body, mind, spirit, to get rid of phobias, obsessions and fears.
In Rus', hoops, rockers, wheels were bent from ash wood, axes and beautiful, convenient dishes with carved patterns were made. Archaeologists discovered such dishes during excavations of ancient Novgorod. Beekeepers still make hives from ash.
Nowadays, ash wood is used to make bent and carved furniture, railings, parquet, veneer, light aircraft propellers, body sides, trim, window frames and carriage sofas, some parts of looms, butts and stocks of firearms, hunting and combat bows. , Sports Equipment.
For magical purposes, ash is collected on Midsummer or Peter's Day or on July 23 before the waxing moon. Ash is a tree of magicians, wizards and fortune tellers. The best sets of fortune-telling runes are made from its wood. Our ancestors believed that wearing garters made of green ash bark protected against the evil eye, damage and slander. And ash leaves attract love and wealth. They were also placed under the pillow to see prophetic dreams.
Ash promotes enlightenment, comprehension of the depth of one’s own “I” and its connection with the universe. Meditation under an ash tree, as well as jewelry and jewelry made from ash, help maintain good health. physical health, help cope with stress and nervous disorders.
Ash is a tree popular all over the world, its species grow in different parts globe and have been used by people since ancient times.
Nowadays, its wood is also used in agriculture, but living plantings are no less actively used in landscape design.
Ash - general description
The tree belongs to the Olive family, class Dicotyledons. It has a huge number of varieties depending on the region of growth. But they are all collected into a single group: ash belongs to the genus of the same name. 
Trees of this genus are characterized by a powerful root system that does not have a taproot. The bark has an ash-gray tint, closer to the soil it is covered with small cracks, but higher up the trunk it is smooth. The trunk reaches a meter in diameter and is covered on top with a highly raised, wide, rounded crown. They are formed from thick arched, curved shoots directed upward. The height of ash is 25-35 m, but some specimens can reach 60 m.
Did you know? Exploring the etymology of the name of the tree, Vladimir Dal claims that it comes from the word “clear”, “light”. This is due to the fact that the tree’s crown is sparse, so sunlight easily passes through it.
The apical buds are formed larger than those on the side, but they are all black with small inclusions. Leaves up to 40 cm grow unequally pinnate, opposite on 7-15 leaflets 4-9 cm long. These leaflets have an entire wedge-shaped base, sessile, glabrous on top and dark green in color. Marked by a depressed vein in the middle and whitish protruding veins below. The stalk is pubescent at the top, grooved, semicircular. Drops leaves late autumn still green.
How ash blooms depends on the specific type of tree, but almost all flowers are scentless and have no perianth. Collected in bunch-shaped compressed panicles on branches without leaves. Female inflorescences grow longer than male ones and grow side by side on the same tree. It also bears bisexual flowers. Accordingly, they can have either one pistil, or two stamens, or both at the same time. Flowering occurs from April to May, before the leaves bloom. Female flowers ripen earlier than male flowers, so pollination occurs at the expense of other trees.
Ash fruits are oblong, elliptical or lanceolate, rounded at the bottom and notched at the top. They grow up to 4.5 cm in length. The nut is almost half the length of the lionfish, oblong, grooved, flat. They ripen in September-October, but stay on the tree for a long time, falling off only towards the end of winter or spring. In winter, they are readily eaten by birds and rodents.
All types of ash are photophilous and frost-resistant, although they may suffer from spring frosts. Grows well in fertile soils, preferring neutral and moist soil. It can live 300 years, but bears fruit at the age of 25-40 years. It grows along roads, in plantings, parks, forests, more often in forests, less often in floodplains.
Types of ash
The tree grows in different climatic zones Worldwide. Having adapted to them, it gradually changed. Today, there are dozens of different species of ash trees. Let's look at the most common of them.
This species grows up to 30 m in height, although on particularly fertile soils it can reach 40 m. The crown is formed high and openwork. The bark of young trees is smooth gray-green, but with age it turns gray and becomes cracked. From blackish velvety buds, odd pinnate leaves grow into 7–15 small leaflets. They are lanceolate in shape, serrate along the edge, and sessile. They are light green below and bright green above.
Blooming ash is covered with small bisexual flowers, which have a bipartite stigma and two stamens. They are formed on the shoots of last year and decorated in bunches. Flowers appear before leaves, in April-May.
By autumn, winged fruits up to 5 cm in length appear in their place. At first they are green in color, then gradually turn brown and ripen by autumn, but stay on the branches all winter.
Common ash belongs to the Olive family. The homeland of this species is considered to be Transcaucasia and Europe, but it is also found in the North Caucasus and Iran. Prefers slightly alkaline fertile soils mixed and deciduous forests. After cutting the tree, abundant growth forms on the stump. It is also found in Crimea and southern parts of Ukraine, but is grown there mainly as an ornamental plant.
White ash (floral)
Appearance of this ash treeIt is distinguished by a low-set, rounded and well-branched crown. The tree sometimes reaches a height of 20 m. Its branches are greenish-gray, covered with black-brown buds with light felt pubescence, standing opposite.
Compound leaves consist of 5 – 11 leaflets up to 10 cm long and 4 cm wide. They are supported by short brownish petioles with grooves. They have an ovoid shape, pointed, serrated along the edge. The base may be unequal, wide and slightly rounded. They have a bluish-green tint on top, which becomes lighter at the bottom. Brownish hairs are observed at the base and along the main veins.
Did you know? Sweetish juice flows from the cut branches of this type of ash, which hardens in the air. This is the so-called manna, from which hard sticks are prepared, suitable for consumption as a mild laxative, which can also be used to treat coughs. It contains mannose, sugar, polyhydric alcohol beckons. Coumarins are present in the bark and flowers.
An ash tree of this species has multi-flowered inflorescences up to 12 cm in length, their typical description is a green calyx divided into four triangular lobes, a corolla with four white lanceolate petals, which is longer than the calyx.
The anthers are located on long filaments, the pistil has a bipartite stigma and a long style. Unlike most ash species, this species blooms flowers after or simultaneously with the appearance of leaves. The fruits are obovate, oblong lionfish, 0.5 cm wide and 3 cm long. Ripen by the end of August.
Did you know? Ash has a strong and elastic wood, which old times used to make hunting tools and military weapons. Clubs, spears, and bows were made from it, which were distinguished not only by their strength, but also by their elasticity. Today wood is also actively used. Baseball bats, billiard cues, skis, racing oars, gymnastic bars - that's not all that is made from ash wood.
This type can be found in Turkey, Southern Bohemia, Austria, Italy, Spain, the Balkans, sometimes in Lebanon, Western Syria, Transcaucasia. IN industrial scale it is grown only in Sicily.
A tree of this species grows up to 40 m in height, forming a wide ovoid crown. Young branches are covered with light down, have a greenish-brown color with a reddish tint, and with age they become shiny, bluish or brown, but more often light orange.
The leaves of American ash are large, up to 30 cm in length.
The leaflets that make them up (on average 7 pieces) have solid serrated edges, oblong. They are 5 cm wide and 15 cm long. Dark green above, light green below, smooth, with a cellular structure and depressed veins. Dioecious flowers have pistillate inflorescences and grow up to 10 cm. Dense with a clearly visible calyx. They appear before the leaves in April–May.
Did you know? The fruits of the tree consist of 30% fat, so it was eaten not only by birds and rodents, but also by people. Back in the 18th century in England, its unripe fruits were preserved and then used as a spicy seasoning for meat and vegetable dishes.
Ash produces fruits in the form of cylindrical lionfish, reaching a length of 3.4 cm, nuts make up almost half of its length. They ripen from August to October, spreading from September to November as they ripen.
Ash lanceolate (green)
A deciduous tree of this species, although it grows only up to 15 m in height, but forms into a powerful plant with a round, wide, light crown on high raised branches with grayish-green or gray bark. The odd-pinnate opposite leaves appear earlier than in other species and fall off early.
The characteristics of this type of ash tree are also not distinguished by the decorative nature of its flowers. They are located at the ends of shortened shoots in the form of panicles or bunches and appear before the leaves. In their place, fruits are formed - winged nuts or achenes.
Important! Ash grows quickly, reaching a height of 60 m. The average age of the tree is 300-350 years. This must be taken into account when choosing a place for planting, so that the tree does not interfere with other plants or buildings over time.
Its homeland is considered to be North America, where it was cultivated in the 18th century and spread throughout the world. Grows in damp hills, on the banks of reservoirs, in deciduous forests. Grows quickly and likes light colors open areas, moist soils with high calcium content. In a year he can gain 45 cm in height. Frost-resistant, mature trees easily tolerate frosts down to -40°C. But at the same time, spring frosts can harm it. When planting this ash tree on your site, keep in mind that it does not like pruning.
This deciduous tree grows up to 25 m in height, forming an oval, wide crown. It is quite thick, which is not typical for ash trees in principle. The shiny green bare shoots eventually change the color of the bark to dark gray.
The leaves of this species are up to 25 cm in length, odd-pinnate, compound. They are formed from leaves of 7-15 pieces up to 8 cm long. The base is narrow, wedge-shaped, lanceolate in shape, and the apex is pointed. The edges are serrated, lighter at the bottom, darker at the top. The leaves are almost leathery, sessile, arranged in opposite pairs.
Flowers appear on last year's shoots. They have no perianth and grow in racemes from the axils of leaf scars.
They appear not in April, as ash usually blooms, judging by the descriptions of other species, but in May. That's why frost damage is extremely rare.
Important! Ash pollen is a strong allergen. It can cause contact dermatitis.
The fruits are lionfish up to 4 cm in length. They have a sharp or rounded top, oblong. The seed nest occupies more than half the length of the lionfish. The fruit is oblong, convex, ripens in September.
Grows mainly in Southern Europe And North Africa. It is highly decorative.
Another name for this ash is Pennsylvania ash. Grows up to 20 m in height, forming a picturesque spreading crown irregular shape. It reaches 12 meters in diameter. Young shoots of this type of tree have felt pubescence and are covered with brown-brown bark.
What does an ash leaf of this species look like? These are 5-9 separate leaves, which are painted in a dark green matte color on top, and have a grayish-green tint below. Even in autumn they practically do not turn yellow, but fall green. The flowers of the plant are yellow-green, flat, round in shape. The tree grows quickly. In a year it can add 30 cm in width and 50 cm in height. Lives approximately 350 years.
The species must be grown in light and in fertile soil. The tree is demanding of moisture, so it requires regular watering. At the same time, it is frost-resistant, but northern regions may suffer from frost. North America is considered its homeland.
It’s not hard to guess where this species came from. Manchuria, as well as Korea, China, and Japan are considered its homeland. Prefers mixed and broad-leaved forests, preferring the proximity of Japanese elm and Maksimovich poplar. Loves fertile soils where it grows very quickly. Average age- 350 years.
This is a dioecious tree, which is covered with male and female flowers, although sometimes bisexual inflorescences with 2-4 stamens are also found. It has a straight trunk, from which branches grow obliquely upward. The height can reach 35 m, the trunk diameter is up to 1.5 meters. Forms an openwork, highly raised crown. 
The bark with thin cracks and longitudinal ribs is 3-5 cm thick, brown or gray in color. Thick young shoots are covered with dark brown or dark yellow bark. The buds are bare, almost black. The leaves form 7-15 leaflets up to 9 cm wide and up to 12 cm long. They have a pointed wedge-shaped base, a serrated edge and an elongated end.
But before the leaves appear on the tree, flowers bloom on it. They appear in May, and by September fruits appear in their place - these are flat lionfish 10 mm wide and 40 mm long with a flat seed. At the beginning of the ripening period they are green, and towards the end they acquire a brown tint.
Distributed in the eastern part of North America, where it abundantly covers the banks of streams and lakes. Loves mixed stands of swamps; pure stands are rarely formed. Accordingly, a slight stagnation of water is not dangerous for him. By the age of five years, the tree grows up to 1.9 m in height, with young plants growing faster. Has high winter hardiness. Does not bloom.
Usually, no matter what type of ash it is, it is valued for its durable wood with a beautiful texture. Black ash is especially valued for its unusual wood color - indeed, almost black in color. But at the same time it is lighter and less durable. Therefore, it is more often used in interior decoration.
The use of ash in landscape design
Due to its high decorative qualities, ash is used not only for reclamation or protective afforestation, but also for the use of wood in furniture production, as well as for use in landscape design. For this purpose, decorative varieties of wood are used, which look great in landscape gardening ensembles. Since it tolerates places with polluted air and compacted soils, it is often planted along roads, in city parks and gardens.
Most often used for this ordinary ash, which looks perfect in alley planting. But in very polluted places, the lanceolate species feels best. Plus it looks very attractive. Fluffy ash is also good for urban conditions. It is easy to care for and looks great in alley plantings and when decorating ponds.
American ash is highly decorative, but it often suffers from pests. Narrowleaf is prized for its fast growth and the voluminous size it can achieve if well cared for. Used both in single planting and together with other foliage plants.
Ash has many types and forms that grow all over the world. The tree is valued for its high decorative properties, therefore it is actively used in landscape design. Some especially decorative varieties are planted not only in parks and alleys, but also alone.
Also valuable is its wood, which is durable, flexible, and in the case of black ash, highly decorative. The main advantage of wood is that it tolerates contaminated soil very well. environment and does not require maintenance.
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The deciduous ash tree has at least 70 species. Of these, only 4 grow in Russia. The climate is suitable for ash Northern Hemisphere. Its wood is very valuable and resembles. In the old days, ash was used to make weapons: clubs, bows, arrows. Now it is used in mechanical engineering, as well as in the creation of aircraft and in the production of furniture, and here it is valued on a par with mahogany.
Almost all seven dozen species of ash are used by humans. This tree, by the way, grows even in North Africa. And on any continent it belongs to the category of expensive, sometimes even elite.
The picture shows an ash tree, its leaves and fruits
Ordinary
This tree very rarely reaches a height of forty meters, more often it is no higher than thirty meters. A young common ash tree has a grey-green bark, while an adult tree has dark gray bark with cracks. Each leaf has up to 15 leaflets. The common ash tree has fruits. They ripen in August, but can hang on the tree until spring.
Photo of a common ash tree
Chinese
This tree is long-lived and can grow up to 100 years. Its homeland is China, but this species of ash is found in North America, Asia, Ukraine, North Caucasus, as well as in the South of Russia. The tree does not belong to the category of giants. His maximum height rarely exceeds 30 meters. Its bark is smooth and dark gray in color. After touching the leaves (they are palm-shaped and can grow up to 60 centimeters), they emit an unpleasant odor.
Photo of Chinese ash
Manchurian
The homeland of this species is Manchuria. The tree also grows in Northern China, Korea, Japan, the Khabarovsk Territory of Russia, Sakhalin and Amur region. Adult bark Manchurian ash light gray in cracks. The crown is openwork. The tree gains color in May. Its fruits are narrow lionfish. The leaves are unpaired, each with 7 to 15 leaflets. The second name of this species, which is most common in Russia, is Far Eastern ash.
Photo of Manchurian ash
Fluffy
This tree is the shortest of all ash varieties, its height is no more than 20 meters. Its crown is openwork, spreading, and its shoots are felt-like. Hence the name - fluffy ash. It can even grow where the soil is thoroughly flooded. The second name for downy ash is Pennsylvanian.
Most often this species grows in North America. It is absolutely unpretentious to the soil, so it grows along rivers or even in flooded openings. The leaves of the tree consist of 5-9 leaflets. Belongs to the category of frost-resistant trees.
Photo of a fluffy ash tree
Features of wood
Ash has elastic but durable wood light color. Wood does not have heart-shaped rays; more precisely, they constitute no more than 15% of the total volume. This means that ash is very difficult to split. Due to the increased viscosity, it is difficult to process wood manually.
Staining and painting change the color of ash for the worse. Therefore, ash is not painted, but it must be dried. When properly dried, wood practically does not crack. It is very expensive and costs almost the same as oak.
Physical properties
The physical indicators of ash are quite high. This classifies wood as durable and easy to work with. Expensive furniture and high-quality parquet are made from ash.
Strength
The tensile strength measured in tension along all fibers is on average 1300 kgf/cm2. But the strength of wood across the grain can be only 1/20 of the tensile strength along the grain. And this figure is 65 kgf/cm2.
There is another parameter - compressive strength. It also comes in two types - along and across the fibers. With increased compression along the fibers, the dimensions of the wood become shorter. The strength indicator is at least 500 kgf/cm2.
But when compressed across the fibers, the wood becomes denser and its height decreases. After the mold is destroyed, its side parts peel off. This indicator for ash wood ranges from 90 to 99 kgf/cm2.
Thermal conductivity
Ash that has undergone heat treatment has the following thermal conductivity index - 0.18 Kcal/m x h x °C. It is 20% lower than that of untreated wood. Quite low thermal conductivity combined with high density allows us to speak of ash wood as a tree that can retain heat. Wood is suitable for creating warm floors.
Density
There is no average density for ash. Late wood has a density three times higher than early wood. Its level is also affected by the humidity of the tree. The optimal density of ash, whose moisture content is 12%, is measured from 680 kg/m3, and maximum value 750 kg/m3. This wood is a high density species.
Elastic modulus
The modulus of elasticity of type 1 ash wood under tension or compression along the fibers is practically the same. In ash, the ratio of these two indicators is 0.9. But the tensile modulus of elasticity will be different.
This indicator is from 7 to 14 times less for ash when stretched across the grain than along it. And with radial stretching it is 1.5 times higher than with tangential stretching. The model of elasticity during torsion of the second kind in ash is 16 times less than the modulus of elasticity of the first.
Natural humidity
The ratio of the mass of moisture contained in a specified volume of wood to the mass of the same but absolutely dry volume is called absolute humidity. When the drying process occurs (natural or artificial), the moisture from the cell membranes evaporates and the wood becomes dried out or dry.
The moisture absorption of ash is significantly lower than, say, coniferous trees. This is due to its high density. Thus, a freshly felled common ash tree has a moisture content of 36%. But for Manchurian ash, the humidity reaches 78%. When dried, cracks may form on this wood. Although it is believed that when using drying and processing technology, ash is excellent for parquet production.
Hygroscopicity
Ash does not absorb external moisture too actively. But in a humid environment, its saturation point can cause some change in volume. That is why dense and hard ash is not suitable for interior cladding of saunas and baths.
Weight
Pure wood tartan fabric, amount of water and anatomical structure wood affects the specific gravity of wood. U common ash these parameters may vary depending on how dry the wood is.
Specific gravity indicators
These indicators allow us to classify ash as a first class of very heavy wood.
Hardness and strength
The density of ash wood at a humidity of 12% reaches 700 kg/m3.
The hardness of ash is as follows:
- end - 78.3 N/mm2;
- radial - 57.1 N/mm2;
- tangential - 65.1 N/mm2.
Wood is classified as durable, hard and heavy. volumetric sculptural compositions.
Color and texture
Despite its density, ash wood is elastic and viscous. Due to its strength, it is easy to process, even after drying it has an interesting texture. The heartwood of ash wood is light brown, and the sapwood is pink or yellow. Bright fibers are visible on the cut, which makes ash similar to oak.
Ash is used in the production of parquet. One of the GOSTs, which determines how a floor covering product should be painted, is GOST 8832.
Burning ash wood
The wood that burns best is wood that is not only dry, but also dense and heavy in physical parameters. When heated to 105°C, the process of evaporation of water will occur. And at 150°C, the release of gaseous products begins. Heat will be released at temperatures above 270°C.
Wood, including ash, can fully ignite at temperatures from 450 to 620°C. When the temperature rises significantly, oxygen is released from the wood, which helps form charcoal and ash. Ash has the highest heat productivity, its indicator is 87%. It is achieved at a maximum temperature of 1,044°C.
Ash content
Hardwoods produce large amounts of ash. It is considered to be an invaluable organic fertilizer. Thus, the ash of ash wood contains a record amount of potassium, and its content is higher the younger the tree is.
Moreover, according to GOST 3243-88, firewood for combustion and ash formation is divided into three groups. The first includes ash, as a tree with a high calorific value. Considering that this wood has excellent physical and chemical properties, it is unprofitable to use it to fire stoves. Moreover, after processing, the value of ash wood only increases.
Heat-treated ash
At high temperatures, ash wood completely loses hemicelluloses. This eliminates the very possibility of the occurrence of fungi and the proliferation of microorganisms. Heat treatment of ash significantly changes its molecular composition. The wood becomes protected from deformation when humidity changes.
Heat-treated ash has a pronounced texture. The color of the wood is uniform from light beige to dark brown. Lately Such wood began to be used for external construction, in particular for cladding terraces.
The undeniable advantages of heat-treated ash include:
- environmental cleanliness;
- beauty of the product;
- its durability.
The only downside is the fact that already expensive wood becomes even more expensive.
Photo of heat-treated ash
Edged
Mostly edged ash is used in construction. Such boards can be used for laying on the floor, as well as for cladding walls. Wood of standard moisture content can be grades 1, 2 and 3. The cost of 1m3 of first-class ash wood is from 18,000 rubles. But for this money you can get a high-quality floor or beautiful walls. All this can last for decades.
In general, ash wood has unique characteristics, which makes it possible to use it in exclusive construction, as well as in the creation of luxury furniture. Moreover, such a clearly expensive acquisition is capable of performing its functions for a very long time.
Photo of edged ash
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