Statue of Unity – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Rain Forest Ektanagar

Ailanthus triphysa

Syn. Ailanthus malabarica

IUCN Red List Least Concern (LC)

Local name

  • Malabar Tree of Heaven (English)
  • Guggula-dhup (Hindi)
  • Aralu (Sanskrit)

Tree type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Simaroubaceae
30m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Ailanthus triphysa bark

Bark

Grey, somewhat rough and resembling sandpaper to the touch.

Ailanthus triphysa leaves

Leaves

Leaves are pinnate, leaflets 5-12 x 0.9-2 cm, curved and sickle shaped drawn out to a point, particularly oblique at the base.

Ailanthus triphysa flower

Flower

Flowers are creamy green in color, borne in panicles in leaf-axils, about 10-20 cm long. Sepals are about 0.5-0.8 mm long. Petals are about 3.5-4.5 x 2 mm. Stamen are about 3-4 mm long.

Ailanthus triphysa fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Fruits are green to greenish brown, papery in texture. Samaras about 5-6 x 1-2 cm.

Ailanthus triphysa

Did you know?

Ailanthus derives from the Ambonese word ailanthos, meaning “tree of heaven”, referring to the genus’s remarkable height.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

Tropical & Subtropical Asia to NE. Queensland.