Botanical Name: Fraxinus americana
Family: Oleaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Genus: Fraxinus
Section: Fraxinus sect. Melioides
Species:F. americana
Synonyms: Fraxinus acuminata, Fraxinus alba, Fraxinus juglandifolia.
Common Name: White Ash
Habitat:Fraxinus americana is native to eastern and central North America.
( mesophytic hardwood forests from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, south to northern Florida, and southwest to eastern Texas. Isolated populations have also been found in western Texas, Wyoming, and Colorado, and the species is reportedly naturalized in Hawaii.)
It grows on rich upland to lowland woods. Usually found in association with other hardwood trees in well-drained soils on slopes.
Description:
Fraxinus americana (White Ash) is a magnificent, large, deciduous tree, growing to 25 m (82ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a fast rate , with a straight trunk and a dense crown, pyramidal to upright-oval when young, becoming rounded with age. The foliage of compound pinnate, dark green leaves contains 5-9 leaflets which turn rich shades of yellow to reddish purple in the fall.
It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen in September. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile.
Cultivation:
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
Prefers a deep loamy soil, even if it is on the heavy side. Most members of this genus are gross feeders and require a rich soil[200]Succeeds in exposed positions and in alkaline soils. Tolerates atmospheric pollution. Young plants tolerate forest shade. One of the most valuable hardwood timber trees in N. America, saplings grow slowly at first, but the growth rate speeds up over the next 50 years. This species is planted on a small scale, mainly in E. Europe, as a timber tree. It has the potential as a forestry tree in Britain, succeeding under conditions that are too dry or frosty for the native ash, F. excelsior. A very ornamental tree, it is often confused in cultivation with F. pennsylvanica. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Male trees usually flower heavily each year, but female trees only flower heavily every 2 – 3 years.
Propagation:
The seed is best harvested green – as soon as it is fully developed but before it has fully dried on the tree – and can then be sown immediately in a cold frame[80]. It usually germinates in the spring. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification and is best sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions or a nursery bed in late spring or early summer of the following year. If you have sufficient seed then it is possible to sow it directly into an outdoor seedbed, preferably in the autumn. Grow the seedlings on in the seedbed for 2 years before transplanting either to their permanent positions or to nursery beds.
Edible Uses: A bitter tasting syrup is drawn from the tree. The report gives no more details and does not directly say that the syrup was used as food. It was quite possibly only used medicinally.
Medicinal Uses:
The bark is astringent, emmenagogue and a bitter tonic. An infusion is used to promote menstruation. It has also been used as a wash to treat skin sores, itches and vermin on the scalp. The inner bark is diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic and strongly laxative. It is used as a tea to remove bile from the intestines, as a tonic after childbirth and to relieve stomach cramps and fevers. It is chewed and applied as a poultice to sores. The leaves are used to soothe the itching caused by mosquito bites and bee stings. The seeds are thought to be aphrodisiac[
Other Uses:
Landscape Uses:Firewood, Aggressive surface roots possible, Pollard, Street tree. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.
Special Features: North American native, Attracts butterflies, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraxinus_americana
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Fraxinus+americana
