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Fraxinus excelsior (Oleaceae)

Recognized as a monumental tree in 2002, this beautiful ash tree grows between the church of San Giorgio (Moncenisio) and the nearby stream, allegedly planted during the construction of the rectory about 400 years ago.

This majestic tree, with a trunk circumference of 19 ft and a height of 33 ft, is one of the oldest specimens of this species; in fact, ashes are seldom so long-lived.

The phytosanitary conditions of the centuries-old ash are quite fair, despite wood decay due to the detachment of one of the main branches.

In 1801, Napoleon Bonaparte probably passed under the beautiful foliage of this tree, while planning the construction of a road (completed in 1813) that connected Turin and Savoy.

How to get there:

From Turin, reach Susa along the valley with the same name: once there, take the road to the small town of Moncenisio where the centuries-old ash tree grows in a churchyard.

Botanical Card

A European-Caucasian species, its growing range in Europe tends to almost completely overlap that of the sycamore maple. In Italy, this species is distributed in the northern part of the country but also in gorge forests of the central and southern ones.

The European ash is a sciophilous species in the first years of its life, then it becomes heliophilous. It prefers deep, loose, fresh but also humid soils with subacid to an alkaline reaction.

In the north, it grows well along with sycamore maples, forming woods that may be an important future resource for valuable timber.

At higher altitudes, it tends to grow with beeches, silver firs and spruces, while at lower altitudes (including the high plain), it is often found among hornbeams and mesophilic oaks, on fertile, deep and humid soils.

The limiting growth factor is water as this species needs a lot of it.
Given its slowness in closing the stomata, while avoiding excessive transpiration, this species cannot tolerate drought, while it can live submerged up to a month.

Leaves, seeds, sap and bark of the young branches are rich in several useful substances (sugars, malic acid, resins, vitamins C and P) still used in physiotherapy.

The wood is of good quality and it is hard, elastic and very strong; it is commonly used in carpentry, cabinet making and in the production of oars, tool handles and ship masts.

Once the leaves have fallen to the ground, they degrade very quickly, increasing the fertility of the soil.

Photo source: https://homoradixnew.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/scatti-dalla-dendrofonia-eseguita-sotto-il-frassino-di-moncenisio/

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)