Tree of Heaven

The Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima, is a fast-growing and dioecious import from China. Here we see the female laden with samaras.


I really like that little twist on the end of each samara.


Each leaflet in the compound leaf has a tooth.


Back on April Fool's Day, I misdentified a Tree of Heaven as Staghorn Sumac. That post is now corrected and I think I might know where to find a real Staghorn Sumac. More on that later.


Oh, and to wrap up the sticky burr saga, I asked my brother about this. He also thought this was the sticky bird but ever quick-witted Jim immediately came to the conclusion that some fifty years ago I initially got it wrong and then passed it on to him.