European ash
Fraxinus excelsior

Where does it grow?
Europe to Central Russia, Front Asia. Related species grow in North America and Japan. It grows in plains and hilly countries, it is always mixed, individually or in groups, it likes lowlands and flooded forests, it can be often found on areas along ways, in gardens and parks.

Look
European ash  has white sapwood, sap is wide and heartwood is yellowish to reddish white, later light brown, due to different colour sections it is often irregularly striped or smudged, it can also be of olive colour. An optional coloured inside can be formed too, e.g. the barrier between sapwood and heartwood is not always distinct. Ash has even funiculus and rough texture, its growth rings form a very decorative drawing in tangential section.

Qualities
Its compactness is 580kg/m3 when dried and ash wood shows minimal shrinkage, it is very suitable for bending. It is very good for manual and mechanical working, gluing, staining and lacquering.
Ash is very suitable for bending, e.g. for production of furniture and interior carpentry and turning work. It is often used to produce sport equipment. It can be cut to decorative veeners.