Did you know every Point in Douglas Glen has a different tree?
In the 300 Cal-de-sac the tree is Fraxinus excelsior commonly know as a European ash or a Common ash.
Here are some fun facts about the Common Ash Tree:
The common ash has two genders, both are found in this cal-de-sac. Female trees produce fruit known as "keys" or "helicopter seeds", well the males grow flowers that releases the pollen. The female flowers the grow into seeds are dark purple flowers that are long well the males are short and are light grey-green that grow into a jet-black cluster. These trees are gender fluid, and can change each year on what they will flower.
Because of the Common ashes high flexibility, shock resistance and resistance to splitting the common as he is used for building almost anything out of wood. It only needs to grow till 10 years old to be mature enough to make a plank of wood, and can be made into tool handles, carpentry, woodworking, and scaffolding. This wood became a vital part of building early cars and aircraft, but this practice died out in the early 20th century.
Ash is the only wood allowed to make "hurleys", the long timber sticks used for hurling in Ireland. Only fast grown, straight, and knot free ash can be used for this sport. There is a lack in Ireland for Common ash so they must import 75% of their 350,000 hurleys or sporting ash. This wood is very important with traditions as the game is referred to as "The Clash of the Ash" across Ireland.
The Ash tree has many roots in Mythology and Folklore. In Norse mythology the vast ash tree Yggdrasil that serves as the Axis Mundi, sustaining the nine worlds of the cosmos in its roots and branches. It's also seen on the Isle of Bute where two lovers reportedly used the leaves of the "Dreamin' Tree" (the Common ash) and they experienced dreams that revealed their actual spouses and their intended fate.
Medicinal purposes were found from this tree, including the bark steeped would help heal newborn umbilical hernias, and that the leaves were an antidote against snake bites and counter the venoms activity. Nowadays the leaves are consumed for laxative purposes, to treat gout, fevers, arthritis, bladder problems, constipation, and water retention issues. (I do not support or recommend using Common ash to treat medical concerns)