The Ash Tree

[IanP]

I'm curious about the characteristic of the Ash to be one of the last to get into leaf and one of the first to drop them, giving it a short season compared to most British species. I wondered whether it was because it is not native to Britain (eg some species of Hawthorn start earlier than others, depending on source), but I'm told this is not the case. Can anybody enlighten me?

[Dorts]

Ash - Fraxinus excelsior, is considered to be native to the British Isles and is found throughout these islands.

It is indeed one of the later trees to come into leaf, but as trees do not all come into leaf at the same time, one of them has to be last, and Ash just happens to be, more often than not, that species.
It is also true that the Ash is one of the first to lose its leaves. It has obviously adapted to complete its growing cycle in a shorter time than most other species.
Walnut, though not native, usually comes into leaf even later than the Ash, and loses its leaves even earlier.

It would be interesting if anyone can think of other species of tree that have an even shorter growing season.
Dorts.

[IanP]

Originally Posted by Dorts

Walnut, though not native, usually comes into leaf even later than the Ash, and loses its leaves even earlier.
Dorts.

That's why I always assumed Ash was an "import" until I started asking questions.

[nightshade]

Ash is a first coloniser, and a very useful timber. I always thought that trees leafed late to avoid insect attack, and the ash lost its leaves early to allow wind through its branches to take the helicopter seeds further, more easily.
Its leaves were used for viper bites on animals, boiled for a medicine to be drunk by the animal and the residue of leaf as a poultice for the wound.

[Batfan]

Is it my imagination, or do ash trees now hang onto their keys longer than they used to? When I was little, we had a couple of ash trees in the garden, and I’m sure they always dropped their keys in autumn, but these days I’ve noticed that a lot of trees seem to hang onto their keys throughout most of the winter, long after their leaves have dropped. Does anyone know if this is a known phenomenon, or is it just a faulty memory?

[The Woodman]

Fossil ash has been found in eastern England and pollen records show that it played an important part in our woodlands during Atlantic times than it does today according to Hadfield.

Thinning ash is fraught with potential danger for the feller. The falling stem can split very quickly if not felled correctly and the resulting energy from the split stem being forced earthward can catch the unwary out with fatal consequences on rare occasions.

[The Woodman]

Originally Posted by Batfan

Is it my imagination, or do ash trees now hang onto their keys longer than they used to? When I was little, we had a couple of ash trees in the garden, and I’m sure they always dropped their keys in autumn, but these days I’ve noticed that a lot of trees seem to hang onto their keys throughout most of the winter, long after their leaves have dropped. Does anyone know if this is a known phenomenon, or is it just a faulty memory?

I'm not sure about this but it appears to me that ash hold their keys longer in mild winters as colder, wetter and windier condition bring them down normally during those months. There may be a strategy of air stratification too.

"Mast" years see great amounts of keys hanging that look almost like large fruits.

[Batfan]

I should have thought about that. Certainly winters did seem generally colder and longer when I was little than they have in recent years (past two winters excepted), so I guess you’re probably right. Thanks for that.

[Burko]

I've noticed a lot of Ash trees with their keys still on.

[Hedera]

This puzzle gives rise to question the old saying: "When the oak's before the ash then we shall have a splash. If the ash before the oak then we shall have a soak." This year I note they are about level pegging! There are still ash keys hanging on some trees though.