Origin
The scientific name of the European ash tree is Fraxinus excelsior, although it is usually known as black ash or common ash. It is a species belonging to the family of Oleaceae. It is a tree native from most part of Europe, with the exception of the North East of Scandinavia (Norway) and South East Mediterranean Europe.
Colour
The European ash wood is a hardwood with a pale yellowish or pinkish white colour, with dark streaks. The logs with darker heartwood are called olivaceous, because they imitate the tone of this species.
Texture
The texture of European ash wood is coarse, with straight and homogenous grain, straight vein, with an approximate weight of 700kg / m3.
Durability
The disadvantage of the black ash wood is that it is a material usually short loving against fungi, hence it is needed to apply varnish or protective layers to avoid its corruption.
Features
Growing of European ash also extends to parts of Asia Minor, as it is able to stand very low temperatures. Nevertheless, it is a species that even when it does well even in areas of moisture, it does not tolerate dry and hot weathers. The black ash supports fine rain, it can even survive the stagnant water, and its wood provides a good impregnability.
Applications
The European ash wood is very pleasant to work, so it is mainly used for carpentry and joinery elements. It gives excellent results when used in building interior flooring and ornamental uses. Due to its high flexibility and resistance for splitting, ash wood is traditionally used for tool handles, curved furniture, shovels ball sports, hockey, tennis rackets and antique furniture. It is also used as firewood because it works as fuel even when green, and in the field of woodturning.