100 Species #9: Tree of Heaven

[urbpan]

Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissimma

Before we even decided to move to this house, I noticed this small Ailanthus tree growing along the back wall. "That has to go, " I told Alexis "first thing." Ailanthus is my favorite urban tree. It's an aggressively invasive species, taking root in the poorest, thinnest soils. It masquerades as a nondescript weed at first, then spends the winter as a thin colorless twig. Before you know it, it's an established sapling tree, with robust roots tight gripping the pavement and building foundations. In the bleakest, most heavily paved parts of the city, it may be the largest tree around.


With great effort, we cut the roots of the tree about three inches below the surface. Later as we walked the dogs I told her "That tree is going to come back, you know."

"Yeah it is."



Ailanthus altissima has previously appeared numerous times in this journal. It was 365 Urban Species #266, grew through a radiator in the zoo, and appeared four times in the daily Urban Picture project.

Comments

[phlogiston-5.livejournal.com]

I am at the Eastern Branch meeting of the Entomological Society of America currently, and just heard a talk about a Verticillium fungus that has cropped up in a stand of Ailanthus in PA. Apparently this thing knocks them out in a couple of years. Pretty awesome (if it is species specific enough). Apparently it is native too so no quarantine studies necessary, and might even be vectored by a species of weevil that will be introduced soon to control Ailanthus.

[ursulav.livejournal.com]

Oh please, oh please, oh please...*burns offerings to the weevil gods*

[phlogiston-5.livejournal.com]

The researcher who gave the talk applied for the release permit and if all goes well it will be out and about by the end of the year. I have more hope for this random fungus though. I think the fungus also attacks some landscape trees (since it is native to the area it had to come from somewhere) but it is mostly soil-borne so its not likely to cause an epidemic (but can hitch a ride on the exoskeleton of the weevils under lab conditions - field not tested yet).

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

They can be lovely trees in places other than my front flower bed.}:P

[iheartoothecae.livejournal.com]

vaxocentric and I are tilling sections of our backyard to put in raised garden beds. Yesterday he kept pulling up these huge, orange roots, which was baffling because there are no trees for at least 50 feet in any direction -- and most are much further than that because of the driveways surrounding the yard. What the hell kind of crazy tree bothers to send roots out that far, through nearly 100% clay soil, having to go downhill and then crossing under a concrete alley?

And then I read this post this morning. Sure enough, there's a medium-sized Ailanthus altissimma lurking in the greenbelt behind the house. My only comfort now is that if I wake up and find a sapling growing out of my shower drain, at least I'll know where it came from.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't surprise me if you discovered that the orange roots led back to Oriental bittersweet vines. They can be amazingly large and extensive, and they are very orange. Whereas Ailanthus roots are pretty much the color of the wood.

[elainetyger.livejournal.com]

HATEHATEHATEHATEHATE ailanthus.

I like the picture of it growing out of the shed, though, and not just because it's comforting to know that it is far away from me. I also like the other picture of the ostrich shed.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

You hate Ailanthus, you say? ;)