not ailanthus, so what is it?

Marie

Can anyone help me ID this tree?



Sorry but I can't seem to get the photos to show. They're on flikr at
http://www.??????.com/photos/66806319@N03/

Here's what I know:
> leaves: compound, growing from disorderly whorls, ave. 12" long
>leaflets paired but slightly staggered, no end leaflet on many
> 6-16 leaflet pairs on stems I examined
> mature leaflets 2-3", pointed with slight curve at tip, no serrations, 1-2 teeth near base
> top of leaflet medium green smooth, underside light green smooth
> leaflet veins roughly alternating
> stems NOTABLY red
> base of stem notably swollen
> height: 50-75'
> crown open
> seeds look like ailanthus (tree of heaven)
BUT...
no unpleasant smell to crushed leaves
looks different from weed ailanthus all over eastern US
leaves smaller than description of ailanthus

Haven't been able to located Audubon or Peterson guides to Northern American trees.

Many thanks!

Marie

Okay, so even the link won't go in. Try just pasting it, maybe? http://www.??????.com/photos/66806319@N03/

Marie

One more try, and sorry for the confusion.

Attached Thumbnails

   

redmower

Marie

I am not familiar with your North American flora in any way but maybe I add to your own detective work. The fruit certainly looks like a samara, as the winged Ailanthus 'seeds' are called. We have Ailanthus triphysa (locally called white siris) over here in our vine forests and it looks vaguely similar to your specimen so I am inclined to suggest you look at other members of Ailanthus to see if you can find a match.

from wikipedia:
* Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven) – northern and central mainland China, Taiwan, arguably the best known species. Ailanthus vilmoriniana is a synonym of Ailanthus altissima.[2]
* Ailanthus excelsa – India and Sri Lanka
* Ailanthus integrifolia – New Guinea and Queensland, Australia
* Ailanthus triphysa (White Siris) – northern and eastern Australia. Ailanthus malabarica is a synonym of Ailanthus triphysa.[3]

The characteristics you refer to:
could be covered by variation within a species.

Have you looked in weed databases or websites? Out of interest what do you call non-native plants in USA or North America generally? we call them weeds or exotics here. In South Africa they are referred to as alien species.

RM

Marie

Thanks for the help. I tracked down one reference online to ailanthus altissima var. sutchuenensis having red branchlets, so maybe that's what I have. Apparently all the ailanthus in America is altissima and horribly invasive. Still, every citation I've found says that altimssima smells, well, like altissima (ug!). Has anyone heard of non-stinky altissimas?

Regarding terminology, I've heard both non-native and exotic used regularly. Invasive seems to be saved for exotics that spread and replace native plants.

redmower

Marie

The scent would come from oil glands often on the foliage as with our eucalypts or other scent glands within the flower.

A. altissima has scent glands in the male flower and as these trees are dioecious with male and female flowers on different plants. Perhaps you have a girl!

RM

Brent Ferris

The leaves and fruit certainly look like Ailanthus altissima -- the smell varies widely some trees more than others, It also has the advantage of growing almost anywhere, and thriving on neglect - useful features for some sites., Also offers a reasonable amount of shade.
If the tree is large enough, the lumber can pass for Ash if strength is not a big requirement. wood is more brittle.
Tree can grow to 80-100 feet in Ontario, and 3 feet or more in diameter.

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