Chandigarh Forests
Department of Forest & Wildlife
UT Administration
Chandigarh
Department of Forest & Wildlife
|
Division
|
Angiosperms |
|
Class
|
Dicotledons |
|
Subclass |
Polypetalae |
|
Order |
Geraniales |
|
Series |
Disciflorae |
|
Family
|
Simarubaceae |
|
Genus
|
Ailanthus |
|
Species
|
excelsa |
|
Etymology: |
Ailanto is the local name used in Moluccas, meaning sky tree, commonly known as Tree of Heaven. |
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Botanical name
|
Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. |
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Local/Trade names:
|
Maharukh, Tree of Heaven, Coromandel Ailanto, Ardu, Arua, Ulloo |
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Conservation status:
|
Commonly planted. |
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Digonestic features:
|
Leaves odd pinnate, unequal at base; fruit a samara. |
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Description:
|
Tall tree, upto 15-20 m high. Bark whitish; branchlets with persisent leaf scars. Leaves odd pinnate 30 x 15 cm; leaflets 8-14 pairs, oblong lanceolate, unequal at base, margin irregularly toothed. Flowers in panicles axillary or terminal. Fruit a samara, linear, oblong to lanceolate, 2.5 x 1 cm, prominently nerved one seeded. |
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Phenology: |
Fls.: Feb.-March. Frts.: May-June. |
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Distribution:
|
Bihar, Central Provinces, Gujarat, Deccan and Andhra Pradesh. |
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Where to see it: |
Gate No. 2 side. |
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Uses: |
Wood used for catamarans and small boats; also used for veneers and plywood packing-cases, sword-handles, toys, and poor quality matches. Bark anthelmintic, febrifuge, expectorant and antispasmodic used for asthma and bronchitis, also for dysentery; said to be good substitude for kurchi bark ( Holarrhena pubescens)contains several quassinoides. Root bark yields alkaloids. Trees yield inferior quality Bassora or Hog gum and serves as a host for ‘Eri’ silkworms. Leaves and shoots used as fodder |
