Fraxinus ornus Manna Ash

Manna Ash is often grown in parks or as a street tree. It has very smooth, grey bark and a dense rounded crown and looks somewhat like Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) from a distance. However it has compound, pinnate leaves with up to 9 leaflets. The fragrant flowers have cream coloured petals and occur in plumes which are dense and distinctive. Unlike our common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) which is wind pollinated. Manna Ash is insect pollinated. It is a native of central and southern Europe and southwest Asia. It does not occur naturalised in West Glamorgan.