Fraxinus ornus
Manna Ash
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Fraxinus genus in the family Oleaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Contact with the sap has caused skin or systemic allergic reactions in some people[9].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Manna - a sweetish exudate is obtained from the stems by incision[7][11][2][3][5][6]. The quality is better from the upper stems. A mild sweet taste[3], its main use is as a mild and gentle laxative[5], though it is also used as a sweetener in sugar-free preparations and as an anti-caking agent[9]. The tree trunk must be at least 8cm in diameter before the manna can be harvested[11]. A vertical series of oblique incisions are made in the trunk in the summer once the tree is no longer producing many new leaves[11]. One cut is made every day from July to the end of September. A whitish glutinous liquid exudes from this cut, hardens and is then harvested[7]. Dry and warm weather is essential if a good harvest is to be realised[11]. The tree is harvested for 9 consecutive years, which exhausts the tree. This is then cut down, leaving one shoot to grow back. It takes 4 - 5 years for this shoot to become productive[7]. Average yields of 6 kilos per hectare of top quality manna, plus 80 kilos of assorted manna are achieved[7].
- Plant part
- Sap
- Product or use
- Manna
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The manna obtained from the trunk is a gentle laxative and a tonic[11][12]. It is especially valuable for children and pregnant women[11][9]. Its action is normally very mild, though it does sometimes cause flatulence and pain[11].
- Product or use
- Laxative
- Product or use
- Tonic
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- S. Europe to W. Asia.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerances
- high wind
- Wind
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The seed is best harvested green - as soon as it is fully developed but before it has fully dried on the tree - and can then be sown immediately in a cold frame[14]. It usually germinates in the spring[14]. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification and is best sown as soon as possible in a cold frame[8]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions or a nursery bed in late spring or early summer of the following year. If you have sufficient seed then it is possible to sow it directly into an outdoor seedbed, preferably in the autumn. Grow the seedlings on in the seedbed for 2 years before transplanting either to their permanent positions or to nursery beds.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a deep loamy soil, even if it is on the heavy side[1][8]. Most members of this genus are gross feeders and require a rich soil[2][8]. Succeeds in exposed positions[8] and in alkaline soils[2]. Requires a moist soil according to some reports[1][2] whilst another says that it succeeds in drier soils[8]. Plants are tolerant of atmospheric pollution[8]. Although the dormant plant is very cold-hardy, the young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. A very ornamental plant[1], the manna ash is cultivated for its edible manna in Sicily and Calabria[15][4]. The flowers are sweetly scented[10]. Trees have a very dense canopy[2]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq.
Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-12-136450-x
Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6
Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1