Trees of New York State 277 



SIMAROUBACEAE 



Ailanthus glandulosa Desf. 



Allan thus, Chinese Sumach, Tree of Heaven 



Habit — In New York State usually a medium-sized tree 30-40 feet in height 

 with a trunk diameter of %-2 feet, occasionally where conditions are 

 favorable 100 feet tall with a trunk 3 feet in diameter. Bole usually 

 short, dividing 6-10 feet above the ground into a few, stout, ascending 

 limbs to form a wide, flat-topped crown of sparse, coarse branches. 



Leaves — Alternate, odd-pinnately compound, 1-3 feet long, consisting of 

 13-41 short-stalked, subopposite or alternate leaflets arranged along a 

 long, tapering, smooth rachis. Leaflets ovate-lanceolate, 3-5 inches long, 

 acuminate at the apex, truncate or cordate and somewhat inequilateral 

 at the base, entire except for a few coarse teeth toward the base, at 

 maturity thin, light green and glabrous above, paler, pubescent and often 

 glandular on the basal lobes beneath. 



Flowers — Appearing during June after the leaves are fully developed, polyga- 

 mous, greenish white, about i/4 of an inch broad, borne in terminal panicles, 

 the staminate often a foot in length, densely-flowered and ill-scented, the 

 pistillate smaller and fewer flowered. Calyx 5-lobed, the lobes broadly 

 ovate, acute. Petals 5, oval, acute, valvate, inrolled, much longer than 

 the sepals. Stamens 10 in the staminate flowers, inserted with the petals 

 on the edge of the disk, exserted, the fllaments hairy toward the base. 

 Perfect flowers with 2-3 stamens. Pistil consisting of a deeply 2-5-lobed 

 ovary surmounted by an equal number of short styles and spreading 

 stigmas. 



Fruit — A flat, veiny, oblong-linear, glabrous, twisted, pale yellow samara, 

 11/2-2 inches long, about Vz of an inch wide, roimded at the apex, tapering 

 at the base, notched on one side and bearing the solitary seed near the 

 middle, borne in ample clusters on short stalks, persisting on the tree into 

 the A\inter and following spring. 



Winter characters — Twigs very stout, blunt-pointed, yellowish to reddish 

 brown, glabrous or fine velvety-pubescent, marked with scattered, ochre 

 lenticels, ill-smelling when crushed. Pith large, ochraceous. Terminal 

 bud absent. Lateral buds hemi-spherical, reddish brown, pubescent, Vs-Vq 

 of an inch long, usually with but 2 visible scales, located in a notch 

 above the large leaf-scar. Mature bark thin, dark gray, slightly rough- 

 ened by shallow, whitened fissures. 



Habitat — A " weed ' ' tree growing vigorously on a variety of sites in vacant 

 lots, about cities, and along streets and highways where less resistant 

 species cannot compete, owing to adverse conditions. 



Bange — A native of China, introduced into this country for ornamental pur- 

 poses and now widely naturalized as a "weed" tree in the northeastern 

 states and Ontario. Zones A, B, and C. 



Uses — Undesirable either as a lumber tree or for ornament. Wood soft, weak, 

 coarse-grained, not durable. Objectionable as a shade or park tree because 

 difficult to eliminate when once established, owing to root-suckers. The 

 staminate trees should never be propagated because of the disagreeable 

 odor of the flowers. It recommends itself only as a shade tree where 

 urban conditions are too rigorous for other species. 



