tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Family: Simaroubaceae
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| Form:
Medium sized reaching 50 – 80 ft. in height and 1 – 2 ft. in dbh. Also has a rounded spreading crown. |
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Leaves: Shape: Ovate – lanceolate Margin: Entire except lobed/glandular toothed at base Texture: Glabrous Variation: Pinnate |
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| Bark:
Thin, gray, and smooth. Inner bark is bitter |
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| Twigs and Buds:
Twigs are stout and light brown. Lacks terminal buds. |
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| Flowers and Fruit:
Flower are staminate and greenish yellow. Fruit is a samara. |
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| Distinguishing Characteristics:
Smell for the burnt peanut butter scent. It’s rachis and petiole are pubescent and it has a large compound leaf. |
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| Range:
Native of China. Introduced in the 1780’s and is now found almost throughout the entire lower 48 states. |
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| Silvics:
It is shade intolerant and grows on dry uplands and poor sterile sites. |
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| Ecological and Cultural Importance:
It is resistant to air pollution; native to China and planted in eastern US 1784; bark extract used as a tonic. Very invasive forming impenetrable thickets in open sunny area. A prolific seeder and tends to be allelopathic. |
