Tree-of-Heaven

Ailanthus altissima (P. Mill.) Swingle

                   

               

    

All photographs are copyrighted and are the property of E. Brunner.

Family:  Simaroubaceae

Native or Introduced to Illinois: introduced 

Natural Habit in Illinois:  Species is distributed in disturbed woods, waste ground, dumps, alleys.

Leaf:  Alternate, pinnately compound with 1 to 3 foot leaves, feather-like, with 11 to 41 leaflets. Leaflets are 2 to 6 inches long, pointed at the tip with large, glandular teeth near the base.

Flower:  Flowers open in mid-April to July. Staminate flowers have a disagreeable odor. Petals are yellow-green.

Fruit:  An oblong, twisted samara, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long with the seed in the center. Ripens September to October and dispersed over the winter.

Twig:   Coarse, yellow to red-brown, with fine velvety hairs when young. Easily broken with reddish-brown pith. Buds are relatively small and half-spherical sitting above large, heart-shaped leaf scars. Terminal bud is absent.

Bark:  Thin, light brown to gray, becoming somewhat rough. Often resembles the skin of a cantaloupe.

Size/Form/Shape:  A short to medium-sized tree with heavy branches. Lower branches on larger trees tend to droop. Often grows in clumps.

Other:  Species is commonly planted as a shade tree, fast growing, staminate trees are malodorous; causes hayfever.

County Distribution Map for Illinois:  

Sources for the Sullivan Middle School Tree Identification Guide were obtained though the use of the following sites:

• Illinois Plant Information Network (ILPIN) @ http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/delaware/ilpin/ilpin.html#Background
• List of Woody Plants Native or Naturalized in Illinois @ http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/woody.html
• Tree Species @ http://ostermiller.org/tree/species.html
• Index to Eastern/Central Trees @ http://www.arborday.org/trees/ECtreelist.html
• ISU Forestry Extension Identification of Common Trees of Iowa @ http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/tree/
• Key to Leaves of Virginia Trees @ http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/key/intro.htm
• List of Native Trees for Use Along Roadsides in Illinois @ http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/treetable.html
• The PLANTS Database @ http://plants.usda.gov/