Correlation between age basal diameter of Fraxinus Ornus L. in three ecologically contrasting habitats

Manna ash (Fraxinus ornus L.) is a typical deciduous tree of South European distributioin reaching the northern border of its range in the Carpathian Basin. The correlation between age and basal diameter of this tree was analysed in three ecologically contrasting habitats, as follows. (1) Succesional habitat. Abandonedframland with scattered occurrence of manna ash as a colonisong tree of this area. (2) Austrian pine plantation, where manna ash often forms a spontaneous subordinate tree or shrub layer. (3) Cotino-Quercetum pubescentis, the naturla vegetation on south facing calcareous hillslopes in Hungary, where Quercus pubescenes Willd. and Fraxinus ornus codominate in the low canopy. At each sampling site 21 individuals were selected with an even distribution within circumference categories ranging from 6cm to 60cm. Circumference measurements were made at the base of the trunk, or cores were taken by a driller. Linear regression analysis was applied to test the correlation between age and diameter