Tree of heaven
Ailanthus altissima
family
Simaroubaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
NIL
For information only
Common names
Ailanthus, Baked sewage tree, China sum, Tree of heaven.
A large shrub or tree that loses its leaves during autumn. Its once-compound leaves are very large (40-100 cm long), with 5-20 pairs of leaflets and a single leaflet at the tip. Its leaflets are mostly entire, except for a few teeth or small lobes near the base which bear prominent raised glands. Its small white or greenish-yellow flowers are borne in large spreading clusters at the ends of the branches. Separate male and female flowers are produced on different plants. Its distinctive winged fruit (3-5 cm long and 7-15 mm wide) turn bright reddish-pink or reddish-brown as they mature.
Impact
Impact
Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia. It was recently also listed as a priority environmental weed in two Natural Resource Management regions. This species primarily occurs in disturbed areas, but its winged seeds can blow considerable distances and it may also invade undisturbed habitats. It spreads into bushland from old homestead sites and other plantings, and is particularly invasive in riparian vegetation and along gullies. However, it can also invade dry sclerophyll forests and other woodlands. This species is an aggressive competitor due to its suppression of other plants with toxins (i.e. allelopathic chemicals) and the abundant suckers that it produces from its shallow roots. Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is also a very successful competitor for both light and nutrients, and typically shades out other species with its very large and dense leaves. The root suckers enable the plant to develop into extensive thickets, sometimes many hectares in size, that displace the native vegetation. These stands can be almost devoid of other species (i.e. monospecific) and can remain for long periods of time. It also re-sprouts vigorously when cut or damaged, making its eradication extremely difficult and time consuming.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia. It was recently also listed as a priority environmental weed in two Natural Resource Management regions. This species primarily occurs in disturbed areas, but its winged seeds can blow considerable distances and it may also invade undisturbed habitats. It spreads into bushland from old homestead sites and other plantings, and is particularly invasive in riparian vegetation and along gullies. However, it can also invade dry sclerophyll forests and other woodlands. This species is an aggressive competitor due to its suppression of other plants with toxins (i.e. allelopathic chemicals) and the abundant suckers that it produces from its shallow roots. Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is also a very successful competitor for both light and nutrients, and typically shades out other species with its very large and dense leaves. The root suckers enable the plant to develop into extensive thickets, sometimes many hectares in size, that displace the native vegetation. These stands can be almost devoid of other species (i.e. monospecific) and can remain for long periods of time. It also re-sprouts vigorously when cut or damaged, making its eradication extremely difficult and time consuming.
