Meyers Lumber

Description

The sapwood of ash is light brown, while the heartwood is brown to greyish brown. White ash and Oregan ash have lighter heartwood than the other commercial species. The width of the sapwood is 3 to 6 inches. It is ring porous, with the latewood being composed of parenchyma which surrounds and unites the latewood pores in tangential bands. It has no characteristic odor or taste.
Ashes are trees or shrubs with large, opposite, pinnately compound leaves, which are shed in the fall. The compound  leaves have 2 to 11 leaflets. The flowers can be bisexual or there can be distinct male and female flowers on separate trees. The flowers have no petals and fruits are dry with a flattened wing.

Distribution

The north temperate regions of the globe.

Working Properties

Ash is straight grained, heavy, hard, strong, stiff, and wears smooth with high shock resistance. It machines well and is better than average in nail and screw holding capacity. It glues moderately well. Black, Green, Pumpkin, and Blue ashes have lower specific gravities and lower strength properties, but are still moderately strong, hard and stiff compared to other native hardwoods. They also split easier, shrink more, are average in workability and perform less well in service.