44 HOUGH'S AMERICAN WOODS. 



stamens distinct and usually as many or twice as many as the sepals; pistils 2-5, 

 separate or combined into a compound ovary of as many cells, sessile or raised on a 

 prolongation of the receptacle; styles mostly cohering, Fruit usually capsular, 1-2 

 seeds in each carpel. 

 Shrubs and trees. 



GENUS AILANTHUS, DESF. 



Leaves pinnate. Flowers small and greenish in panicles, polygamous; sepals 5, 

 more or less united at the base; petals 5 ; stamens in the perfect'flowers 2-3, in the 

 monoecious flowers 10; ovaries 2-5, styles lateral. Fruit 1 -eel led, 1 -seeded, linear- 

 oblong, thin, veiny sainara3. 



Trees and shrubs. 



(Ailanthus is formed from the Molucca name Ailanto or Aylanto.} 



4. AILANTHUS GLANDULOSUS, DESF. 



AILANTHUS, TREE-OF-HEAVEN. 



Ger., Driisiger Gotterbaum; Fr., Ailante glanduleux; Sp., Barniz 



falso de Japan. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves glabrous, sometimes 4 ft. (1.22 m.) long, pinnately 

 compound with 10-20 pairs of leaflets and an odd terminal one; leaflets pointed, oblong- 

 lanceolate or ovate, with one or two glandular teeth near the base, short- petiolate 

 excepting the terminal one which is long-petiolate. Flowers (May, June) in terminal 

 panicles, polygamous, small, greenish and of disagreeable odor. 



(The specific name, glandulosus, is a Latin word meaning gland-bearing.} 



A large tree of rapid growth, luxuriant foliage and rather smooth bark. 



HABITAT. An introduced tree of hardy nature. It grows well with 

 us in nearly all localities, and in places seems thoroughly naturalized. 

 It is a native of China and Japan. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood not very hard, of medium weight and 

 rather open grain; light brownish yellow; sap-wood lighter than the 

 heart, and the line of transition from sap to heart is marked by an orange- 

 colored band. 



USES. The timber is very little used in this country, but in Europe 

 is used in the manufacture of wooden-ware and for charcoal. In this 

 country the Ailanthus is principally useful as a shade tree, and is espe- 

 cially suited to planting in city parks and along streets, owing to its very 

 rapid growth and handsome ample foliage. However, it has one bad 

 trait, which in the minds of those living near it often countervails 

 all that may be said in its favor;: the odor which its blossoms emit is very 

 disagreeable and sickening. Considering that, the name Trce-of- Heaven 

 seems to be very wrongly applied. All we can say is that it is a transla- 

 tion of the Molucca name, Ailanto, which is said to be given to it on 

 account of its lofty growth. Its growth may seem lofty enough in the 

 Moluccas to justify such an appellation, but if could hardly be compared 

 with many of our native American trees. In China and some parts of 

 Europe the leaves afford food for a species of silk-worm, which produces 

 an excellent quality of silk. 



