Deepening:
The manna ash yesterday and today
The ornel produces a particular resin, called
manna. This sap in the past was given to children as light lassative and it is
nominated also in the Old Testament, to indicate the food send by God in n
Sinai desert. Greeks called it "air's honey" or "honey of
dew".
At a time it was supposed that this plant had
medicinal properties: indeed Plinius, recommended the juice of its leaves to
contrast the poison of snakes. It was thought thatburning its wood turned away
evil spirits.
Except in some areas of
The woods has properties
similar to those of fraxinus (fraxinus excelsior) and, thank to its
flexibility, is used to produce handles for sport tools. Its wood is also a
very good combustible. Its leaves are used as pasture and, fermented with water
and saccharose, are useful even to prepare alcoholic drinks.
