SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ailanthus altissima

COMMON NAME(S): Tree-of-heaven
SYNONYM(S):
FAMILY: SIMAROUBACEAE - Simarouba family
ORIGIN: China
HABITAT: Disturbed places, cultivated landscapes
RANGE: Throughout region to northernmost Florida
TYPE: Deciduous tree
HEIGHT: 40-80'
CHARACTERISTICS: Bark thin, gray, slightly rough; green and smooth on new growth; stems with conspicuous heart-shaped leaf scars, often drooping and weak-wooded
LEAVES: Alternate, pinnate, 1-3' long, with 15-41 paired leaflets and a single terminal one; leaflets 2-6" long, 1/3 as wide, broadest at base; margins smooth except for two glandular teeth near base, narrowly pointed at tip; leafstalks swollen at connection
FLOWERS: Male and female flowers usually on separate trees, small, yellowish-green, in 6-12" clusters, male flowers with foul odor
FLOWERING SEASON: June
FRUITS: Densely clustered, one-seeded, papery, winged, twisted, red or brown

ALLERGENIC COMPONENTS: Leaves and flowers
ALLERGENIC PRINCIPLES: Unknown, pollen allergens
ALLERGENIC PROPERTIES: Dermatological, respiratory
COMMENTS: The tree-of-heaven, widely naturalized throughout the eastern and southeastern United States has been the cause of contact dermatitis. The tree is capable of growing well in the most inhospitable urban conditions. Inhalant allergy to the pollen has also been reported, although the tree is primarily insect pollinated with only a little pollen windborne.