The tree grows in the North temperate regions of the globe. Approximately 60 species of ash exist, and 16 are native from North America. Eastern Canada is the principal habitat of the 4 country' species.
The Tree:
The tree can reach heights of 80 ft (24 m) with straight boles.
General Wood Characteristics:
The sapwood of ash is light brown or creamy white, while the heartwood is brown to grayish and dark brown. White ash has a lighter heartwood than do the other commercial species. The width of the sap wood is 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 cm). It is ring porous, with the latewood being composed of parenchyma which surrounds and unites the latewood pores in tangential bands. The wood has no characteristic odor or taste. Ash is bold, straight and moderately open grain with occasional wavy figuring. It is heavy, hard, strong and stiff.
Hardness (Janka):
1320 pounds (i.e. 2% harder than Northern red oak).
Dimensional stability:
Above average (i.e. 26% more stable than Northern red oak).
Durability:
Elastic, hard; excellent and high shock resistance. Remains smooth under friction. Used for baseball bats and hand tools.
Variations within species and grades:
Sometimes confused with hickory; the zone of large pores is more distinctive in ash, similar to that of red oak. Also similar in color to white oak, but frequently more yellow.
Comments:
* Color variation: light sensitive; medium to strong color change upon exposure to intense light.
* color change will disappear within a few months
* Indentation: show minimal indentation appearance because of its open grain and natural color.
