> BOTANICAL NAMES
Fraxinus excelsior. It belongs to the family of Oleaceae.

> TRADE NAMES 
Frassino, frassino maggiore – Italy
Frène – France
Ash – Great Britain

> GROWTH AREA 
This tree can easily be found on the plains and woods of the European mountains, but also in the north and western Africa.

> TECHNOLOGICAL FEATURES 
The sapwood and heartwood are very similar and have mostly a light colour but sometimes this wood can appear of a light brown that tends to become darker when seasoned. A particular type of this tree is the olive ash used for decorative purposes, it is characterised by irregular and dark streaks that can be of different wideness. This wood has a coarse pore texture and a straight fibre.

> SPECIFIC WEIGHT 
Seasoned on the open air, it present a specific weight of about 710 Kg/m3.

> DRYING METHOD 
It must be carried very carefully to avoid splitting, but usually it is a very easy and quick process.

> MAIN USES AND WORKING 
Since the exotic and the most valuable European woods have become very expensive during the last years and also due to the difficulties to find them in the market, ash is actually very required. It is a very resistant and flexible wood and for this reason is easy to work. It is mainly used for the realisation of furnishings, handles and sport equipment.