Red Ash, Leatherjacket, Coopers Wood Alphitonia excelsa, the Red
Ash, sometimes called Leatherjacket or, when found growing on
the coast, Coopers Wood, is a member of the Rhamnaceae family,
which contains 25 Australian genera and is well represented
beyond Australia. Apart from its value as an ornamental tree,
Alphitonia excelsa serves as a fodder plant for both sheep and
cattle, and is not as astringent as some edible species. Its
wood is useful for tool handles, cabinet work and building
purposes, and when first cut is a light colour, gradually
darkening at the heart. When planted in a well-drained position
it makes a splendid shade tree which can grow to a height of
about 21 m in warm moist conditions; or it can remain as a
relatively smaller tree when grown in open situations in
Canberra or similar climates. It can be easily recognised when
the young shoots are bruised or broken, as it gives off a
peculiar odour similar to sarsparilla. A. excelsa is widely
distributed in the Eucalypt forests of the Northe