Fraxinus excelsior
Ash

- Family: Oleaceae
- Origen: native to Europe and western Asia
- Interesting facts: The wood is very easy to work and has been used for cart axles, ox yokes, tool handles, etc. The leaves and bark are also used in medicine as antipyretics, mild laxatives and to fight intestinal parasites

A deciduous tree with smooth, greyish-green bark on the trunk in young specimens.

The leaves are opposite, with 7 to 13 serrated leaflets (with more serrations than veins) and a pubescent underside. The entire leaf can measure up to 30 centimetres and has a glabrous, grooved rachis. The buds are opposite and black in colour.

The flowers may be female or male, either on the same tree (monoecious flower) or on different trees (dioecious flower). The flowers appear before the leaves, with the females being pale green in colour, not very compact, naked and with a single style. The males are arranged in pendulous panicles. They are purple in colour and turn yellow when they release pollen. They have 2 stamens.

The fruits are pendulous samaras that turn brown when ripe. They measure 4 centimetres and remain on the tree after the leaves fall.

Source: Rosalía de Castro Park Botanical Guide