Fraxinus excelsior

Fraxinus excelsior L. – European ash

group: 	RING-POROUS HARDWOODS

Macroscopic structure of wood

heartwood/sapwood: 	heartwood

description: 	wide sapwood (very wide, above 5 cm), yellowish to pinkish; heartwood light brown to brown

rings: 	distinct boundary between rings; distinct zone of early wood and late wood in rings

vessels	macro pores in early wood (X – holes, R, T – grooves), micropores in late wood invisible

microvessels arrangement: 	without an arrangement

rays: 	fine ray fleck, visible only in R

texture: 	flatsawn (T), radial figure (R)) and burl (T); very decorative wood

other: 	gradual change from sapwood to heartwood

Microscopic structure of wood

brief overview: 	Rays 1–4 seriate, HomG; microvessels without an arrangement

ring: 	early wood and late wood very good distinct in rings	X

vessel types and arrangements: 	macrovessels in early wood (predominantly solitary), microvessels in late wood	X

microvessels arrangement: 	any (predominantly solitary or short radial multiples, thick-walled)	X

type of vessel perforation: 	simple	R

tyloses: 	possible presence in early wood vessels	X, R, T

rays: 	homogeneous	R, T

width of rays	1–4	T, (X)

apotracheal parenchyma: 	marginal	X

paratracheal parenchyma: 	vasicentric	X

other: 	crystals in ray cells

Wood properties

density: 	moderate heavy ρ 0: 	670 kg/m3

ρ 12-15: 	710 kg/m3

ρ green: 	1000 kg/m3

shrinkage: 	medium

- volumetric (βV): 	13,2 %

- radial (βR): 	5 %

- tangential (βT): 	8 %

mechanical properties: 	very strong, elastic

ultimate strength in compression ||: 	52 MPa

ultimate strength in bending: 	105 MPa

ultimate strength in tension ||: 	165 MPa

hardness: 	moderate hard to hard

Janka's hardness: 	80 MPa

technological properties: 	no problem with drying, working an finishing

resistance: 	ated as moderate or slightly resistant to decay

Wood utilization

timber, veneers, furniture, turning work, sports equipment (hockey sticks, paddles, sledges, bows, baseball and tennis rackets, ski, gymnasium apparatus), doors (interior), floors, parquet, stairs, inside joinery facings, boat building and agricultural machinery

References