Fraxinus ornus

South European flowering ash or manna ash is in the olive or Oleaceae family and is native to southern Europe and southwestern Asia. It is known for its panicles of creamy white flowers, unlike most flowers of ashes, which have no petals.

• Leaves are in opposite pairs, pinnate, 20—30 cm long, with 5—9 leaflets; the leaflets are oblong to ovate, sharply toothed, taper-pointed, up to 12 cm long and 5 cm wide, and short but distinct petioles 5—15 mm long; the autumn colour is variable, yellow to purplish.
• Flowers are produced in dense panicles 10—20 cm long after the new leaves appear in late spring, with fluffy clusters of flowers with four slender creamy white petals 5–6 mm long.
• Fruit is a slender samara 1.5—2.5 cm long, in drooping clusters.
• Buds are pale pinkish-brown to grey-brown, with a dense covering of short grey hairs.