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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.
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.
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.
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.
Propagation is by seeds which must be sown soon after ripening, and by root-cuttings. It suckers from the roots.
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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