The Trees at Keele
Narrow-leaved Ash - Fraxinus angustifolia
Origin: This tree is a native of southern Europe and was introduced to Britain around 1800. It is found infrequently in parks and gardens, mainly in the south.
It resembles the Common Ash but the winter buds are coffee-coloured (black in Common Ash), the leaves are 15 to 25 cm long with 7 to 13 narrow leaflets (broader in Common Ash) with jagged marginal teeth, 7 - 20mm long, narrowly tapering to the base; apex long-pointed.
The terminal leaflet is the only one with a stalk.The number of teeth usually equal the number of leaf veins whereas in Common Ash there are more teeth than veins.
In autumn, the leaves turn a beautiful rose-pink colour especially in the form Claret Ash 'Raywood' one of which is planted in memory of Dr Richard Vasek Kunc off Cherry Tree Walk.
The other ash at Keele with such narrow leaflets is the Caucasian Ash but that species has fewer leaflets and on the underside of the leaf at the base of each leaflet are brownish hairs. Narrow-leaved Ash is hairless (glabrous) beneath.
Location :
- One with a collection of ashes; square S17; tag 1032.
- One, form Claret Ash 'Raywood', between the Chapel and Tawney Building; square M7; tag 1077. Planted in 2012.