Large deciduous tree with yellow leaves in autumn, around 20 m high. Also known as the Desert Ash.
Leaves are comprised of leaflets. Has brown buds in winter. Many flowers in spring and fruit.
14 - 20cm long, usually 5 - 7 (occasionally 13) leaflets, which are each 5 - 8 cm long and 0.7 - 2 cm wide. Serrated edges with pointed leaf tips. Bright and shiny green on upper side and dark and pale on underside.
Many inconspicuous flowers with no sepals or petals. Red to purple anthers (pollen-bearing part of a flower).
Fruits are samara (type of dry fruit that are winged to help carry the seed away on the wind). Samara are in a cluster of 6 - 10, flattened, 3 - 4 cm long with the seed confined to half the fruit.
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First fully open single flower
Full flowering (record all days)
End of flowering (when 95% of the flowers have faded)
No flowering
Fruits/seeds (record all days)
Weeds are one of the main threats to biodiversity and agriculture in Australia and under climate change will become an increasing management challenge for natural resource management.
Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. Oxycarpa has grand purplish foliage in autumn whereas the Desert Ash has Yellow leaves in autumn.
Both are weeds that should be removed from natural areas.
