Difference between revisions of "Ailanthus"
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| + | Ailanthus (from its native name Ailanto, meaning Tree of Heaven). Syn., Ponggelion. Simarubaceae. Trees chiefly grown for their handsome large foliage. | ||
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| + | Large trees: Ivs. alternate, odd-pinnate, deciduous: fls. small, in large terminal panicles, polygamous; sepals and petals 5 or 6; disk small, 10-lobed; stamens 10; carpels 5 or 6: fr. consisting of 1-5 distinct oblong samaras with the compressed seed in the middle.—Eight or 9 species in Cent, and S. Asia and in N. Austral. | ||
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| + | These trees are sparingly branched, with large pinnate foliage, inconspicuous greenish flowers in upright panicles followed by winged fruits; the foliage exhales a disagreeable odor when bruised. The ailanthus foliage gives a tropical effect when the growth is very strong. | ||
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| + | The Chinese species are fairly hardy North; only as young plants are they somewhat tender. They are very rapid growers and stand smoke and dust well. If plants are cut back to the ground after they have become established (in two or three years after planting), they will throw up very strong shoots and make an excellent screen. This practice may be repeated year after year. Sumacs, paulownias, basswoods, mulberries, and other fast-growing things may be treated in this way. The ailanthus foliage is very like that of the cedrela (which see for illustration of differences). The best known is A . altissima, which is often planted as a street tree, particularly in cities, as it resists smoke better than many other trees and is not attacked by insects. For street planting, the fertile plant only should be used, because the male exhales a disagreeable odor when flowering, and the pollen is said to cause catarrhal troubles. It grows in almost any soil, but best in a light and somewhat moist one. | ||
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| + | Propagation is by seeds which must be sown soon after ripening, and by root-cuttings. It suckers from the roots. | ||
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| + | A. excelea, Roxb. (Pongelion excelsum, Pierre). Tall tree: lvs. 3 ft. long, abruptly pinnate; lfts. 20-28, teeth without glands. India. Can be grown only in tropical regions or in the hothouse.—A. flavescens, Carr.==Cedrela sinensis. | ||
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Revision as of 06:34, 12 August 2009
Read about Ailanthus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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{{{1}}} The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text. |
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 Ailanthus altissima leaf and seeds | ||||||||||||
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Ailanthus (derived from ailanto, an Ambonese word probably meaning "tree of the gods" or "tree of heaven") is a genus of trees belonging to the family Simaroubaceae, in the order Sapindales (formerly Rutales or Geraniales). The genus is native from east Asia south to northern Australasia. Also known as "ghetto palms" or "poverty trees", they are ubiquitous in the backyards and vacant lots of New York or anyplace there happens to be a piece of urban dirt.
They are fast-growing deciduous trees growing to 25-45 m tall, with spreading branches and large (40-100 cm) pinnate leaves with 15-41 long pointed leaflets, the terminal leaflet normally present, and the basal pairs of leaflets often lobed at their bases. The small yellow to greenish flowers are borne on branched panicles they turn reddish later in the year and eventually brown they stay on the tree for a long time; the male flowers have a strong odour. The odour tends to resemble the smell of strong cat urine or the spray of a male cat. Also, touching the leaves leaves an unpleasant smell on the hands. The fruit is a samara drawn out into a long wing with the seed in the middle. The wood is fine grained and satiny.
The number of species is disputed, with some authorities accepting up to ten species, while others accept six or fewer. Species include:
- Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven) – northern and central mainland China, Taiwan, arguably the best known species.
- Ailanthus excelsa – India and Sri Lanka
- Ailanthus integrifolia – New Guinea and Queensland, Australia
- Ailanthus malabarica – southeast Asia
- Ailanthus triphysa (White Siris) – northern and eastern Australia
- Ailanthus vilmoriniana (Downy Tree of Heaven) – southwest China
A silk spinning moth, the Ailanthus moth (Samia cynthia), lives on Ailanthus leaves, and yields a silk more durable and cheaper than mulberry silk, but inferior to it in fineness and gloss. This moth has been introduced to the eastern United States and is common near many towns; it is about 12 cm across, with angulated wings, and in colour olive brown, with white markings. Other Lepidoptera whose larvae feed on Ailanthus include Endoclita malabaricus.
References and external links
- Template:APNI
- Germplasm Resources Information Network: Ailanthus
- Ailanthus and Staghorn Sumac, from The Monday Garden.
