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.

[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.

[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.