Ailanthus altissima is a deciduous Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a fast rate. This helps distinguish it from sumacs (Rhusspp.). The pithy shoots are initially covered with yellow or yellowish brown hairs, becoming glabrous. Swingle) is relatively scant, at least com-pared to what is available on most North American forest tree species (6). Swingle (Simaroubaceae) family, is commonly known as the “tree of heaven” and widely distributed in China and European countries (Wang et al., 2013).It is recognized as a traditional herbal medicine and utilized in the therapy of epilepsy, asthma, ascariasis, bleeding, and gastric diseases (Kim et al., 2016; Ni et al., 2017; Yang et al., 2014). The plant is usually cultivated either from ripe seed (February/March) or from suckers (March/April), which thrive in any fairly good soil. In Asia, extracts of A. altissima bark and fruits are used as an antimicrobial, anthelmintic, and amoebicide. Cutting young trees back to the ground in the spring and reducing the young shoots to a single shoot helps to produce a tree with strong wood and large (4-foot) leaves. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from September to November. A combination of these can be most effective, though they must be compatible. The flowers are small, yellow-green to reddish, produced in late spring to mid summer in panicles up to 30 cm long. The bark is reported to contain an oleoresin, a bitter essence, an aromatic essence, a resin, some mucilage, ceryl alcohol, ailanthin, calcium oxalate and isoquercetin. Ailanthus altissima NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Trees harvested for medicinal purposes are usually felled in the spring or autumn, and the bark is removed and dried in the sun. In many areas it has become a noxious weed. A silk spinning moth, the ailanthus silkmoth (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 color olive brown, with white markings. It grows to 80 ft (24 m), with a diameter of 2 ft (0.6 m). Code created in: 2002-07-18. In overall appearance, it is somewhat similar to some species of sumac; Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina can be distinguished by sumac's red and slightly hairy stems, as well as leaves that are serrated, instead of having the base teeth of A. altissima. In addition to the tree of heaven's various uses, it has also been a part of Chinese culture for many centuries and has more recently attained a similar status in the west. Toggle navigation. Swingle Quassia Family (Simaroubaceae) DESCRIPTION Tree-of-heaven, also known as ailanthus, Chinese sumac, and stinking sumac, is a rapidly growing, deciduous tree in the mostly tropical Quassia Family. It is frequently found along highways and railroad tracks, in abandoned lots in cities, on abandoned mining sites, and in other areas where few trees can survive. Cutting and hand digging are options for larger trees, but the former will produce stump sprout which will need to be controlled later and the latter is very time consuming and is only practical for small infestations. (1991). advanced search... Login. Cutting a full ring will kill the upper part of the tree and cause root suckers to sprout. It was brought to the United States by William Hamilton, a gardener in Philadelphia in 1784 and soon became a favoured ornamental tree in parks and gardens. Leaf: Deciduous. From these areas, tree-of-heaven has spread and become a common invasive plant in urban, agricultural, and forested areas. All parts of the tree produce an unpleasant odour, suggestive of rancid cashews, with male flowers having the strongest smell. Bitter tonic. Ailanthus altissima is a very adaptable tree that can be grown in temperate to subtropical climates. Known by a number of names including stinking sumac, Chinese sumac, varnish tree and stink tree, the plant releases a strong, offensive smell, particularly from its flowers. Tree-of-heaven has become a problematic invasive species in many areas with warm temperate climates, especially in North America, due to its aggressive spread, vigorous growth and allelopathic chemicals. Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Basic information. This page was last edited on 29 November 2017, at 21:51. Ailanthus Altissima - Uses Uses In addition to its use as an ornamental plant, the tree of heaven is also used for its wood , medicinal properties, and as a host plant to feed silkworms of the moth Samia cynthia , which produces silk that is stronger and cheaper than mulberry silk , … Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) PP1 - Efficacy Evaluation of Plant Protection Products; PP2 - Good Plant Protection Practice; PP3 - Environmental Risk Assessment of … The leaves are also used to feed silkworms of the moth Samia cynthia, which produces silk that is stronger and cheaper than mulberry silk, although with inferior gloss and texture. Immigrants later introduced tree-of-heaven to the West Coast in the 1850s. Throughout the Far East, various parts of A. altissima are considered to be medicinal, with the use of either the fruits or bark of either root or stem for dysentery and various other gastric and intestinal upsets. It is dioecious, with trees being either all male or all female. A. altissima is resistant to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) Home ; Standards . Although it makes a handsome tree, it has become well known as an invasive plant in many parts of the world. The most familiar species is the tree of heaven. Ailanthus altissima, commonly called tree of heaven, is native to China and was introduced into New York City in 1820 as a street tree and food source for silkworm caterpillars. The bearer must have meant well, for the ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima) isn't a terrible-looking tree. The leaf is odd-pinnate, but often the tip leaf is absent, which makes it pinnate. The literature on ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Ailanthus, Any of the flowering plants that make up the genus Ailanthus, in the quassia family (Simaroubaceae), native to eastern and southern Asia and northern Australia and naturalized in subtropical and temperate regions elsewhere. Growing Ailanthus Altissima. erythrocarpa Average Dried Weight: 37.1 lbs/ft 3 (600 kg/m 3) Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .44, .60. Managing the invasive tree Ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima, also called tree-of-heaven) has emerged as a core strategic component of approaches to spotted lanternfly (SLF) mitigation and management. From Manchuria to the Malay Peninsula, various parts of Ailanthus altissima are considered to be medicinal. Abstract. Origin and Meaning of Names: Scientific Name: altissima: tall Photographs: 34 photographs available, of which 11 are featured on this page. The bark of the tree is smooth and light grey, while the stems are reddish or chestnut. It grows to 80 ft (24 m), with a diameter of 2 ft (0.6 m). Ailanthus produces allelopathic chemicals, which inhibit the growth of other plants. The maximum length is 60 cm and it consists of 12 to 25 leaflets and appears late in spring. Ailanthus altissima swingle has potent anti-anaphylactic and anti-inflammatory properties. Distribution: Native to China; widely naturalized worldwide. It is also unable to take dye. Ailanthus ,AKA The Tree of Heaven, is a native of China. A hardiness zone is a geographically defined area where a given plant is capable of growing. More recently, other quassinoid constituents of A. altissima have also been shown to be active with the following IC50 (μg/ml) ailanthone (0.04), ailanthinone (0.06), and glaucarubinone (0.025) as compared with a standard amoebicide, metronidazole (0.35). Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq. Of course it escaped and colonized field margins out competing native species. Swearingen, Jil M.; Pannill, Phillip (2006). The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). In the scan above, the left side is wiped with mineral oil to hi-lite the dark lines in the springwood. Ailanthus altissima has potent anti-anaphylactic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is hardy to zone (UK) 7. China. Female trees can produce more than 300,000 seeds in a year. Since it is preferable to produce female plants which do not have the undesirable foetid odour, propagation from root cuttings is the more popular method. Image Ron Kemeny. All parts of the tree, especially the flowers, have a strong, offensive odor, which some have likened to peanut butter or cashews. It was recently also listed as a priority environmental weed in two Natural Resource Management regions. A tree with stout branching and a robust look. Rahman HMA, Rasool MF, Imran I. Pharmacological Studies Pertaining to Smooth Muscle Relaxant, Platelet Aggregation Inhibitory and Hypotensive Effects of Ailanthus altissima… Leaves are toxic to domestic animals, causing inflammation to the digestive tract; gardeners cutting the trees may suffer erupting pustules. It is native to both northeast and central China and Taiwan. Hardiness zones are based largely on climate, particularly minimum temperatures. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Its large, compound leaves are arranged alternately on the stem, and can be 30–60 cm long (occasionally up to 1 m long on vigorous young sprouts) and contain 11-33 leaflets, occasionally up to 41 leaflets. It was first introduced to Europe (France and England) by a French Jesuit priest returning from Nanking in 1751. ---Description---A large, handsome tree of rapid growth, bearing leaves from 1 to 2 feet long, and greenish flowers of a disagreeable odour.Was introduced into England in 1751 and is frequently found in gardens as a shade tree. [1] The root systems will eventually become exhausted and die if mechanical or thermal control is done thoroughly and consistently, though this may take several years. Regional variation has begun to show throughout its range, with trees in the colder northern regions producing heavier seeds than those in warmer regions. Scientific Name: Ailanthus altissima. While the enzyme is inhibited to some degree by Triton X-100, a modification of the assay procedure of Klein and Vishniac has been shown to be far superior to the use of aqueous acetone systems.