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Japanese Ash
Fraxinus japonica
トネリコ
A deciduous tree in the olive family, endemic to mountains of central and northern Honshū, Japan. The bark exudes a grey-white sticky latex, historically used for bird-lime — possibly the origin of the name 'to-nuri-ki' ('door-coating tree'). The elastic, hard wood is used for baseball bats, furniture, and tool handles. A major Japanese timber alongside related yachidamo, shioji, and aodamo. Small flowers in panicles in spring; winged samaras in autumn.
Identification Points
- ✓Odd-pinnate opposite compound leaves
- ✓Grey-brown irregularly fissured bark
- ✓Elongated winged samaras
Habitat
Mountains, streamsides
Season
April to May (flowers); September to October (fruit)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf type
Compound
Compound type
Pinnate
Growth form
Tree
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Habitat
Mountain
Phylogenetic Positionモクセイ科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Lamiales > Oleaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (ca. 70–60 Ma)
Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification