๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ง'๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง
The Ash, ๐น๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, was once widespread in this part of the world but is now rather uncommon, having been struck down by ash dieback, caused by the fungus ๐ป๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐โ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ข๐ . The name perhaps hints that this invader from the east is rather ash-focussed.
Its timber has a remarkable combination of strength and elasticity and was sought after for oars and spear shafts, amongst other things.
Ash has a loose sexuality; individual trees can be male, female or both. And this isnโt fixed, its gender can wander over the years.
It doesnโt really like the same conditions as Beech, so this specimen, by the Plek parking in Groenendaal, may have been deliberately planted; the local conditions seem much to its liking given its size.
Hiding in plain sight of the fungus.