Ailanthus altissima

Erect, deciduous tree to c. 10 m high, often suckering and forming thickets. Leaves imparipinnate or paripinnate, c. oblong in outline, 20–80 cm long; petiolules 3–12 mm long; leaflets up to c. 20 pairs, subopposite, obliquely ovate or broad-lanceolate, 4–14 cm long, 2–5 cm long, base almost truncate, margin 1–few-toothed either side near base, each tooth gland-tipped, lower surface often glaucous, glabrous or with a few hairs around margin and near midvein. Calyx 1–1.5 mm long, broadly lobed to c. midway; petals 2–3 mm long, woolly toward base on inner surface and margins; nectary-disc glabrous; male flowers with stamens slightly exceeding petals, filaments pubescent toward base; pistillode rudimentary or absent; female flowers with staminodes c. half petal length; carpels 5, styles united, stigma 5-lobed. Samaras oblong-elliptic, 4–5 cm long, c. 1 cm wide, papery; seed c. central, lenticular, c. 4 mm diam. Flowers Nov.–Jan.