Common Name:

General Information

Ailanthus triphysa is a large, evergreen tree with a sparsely branched,, open crown; it can grow up to 45 metres tall, but usually smaller[, ]. The bole is usually up to 75cm in diameter, occasionally to 150cm[].
The tree has a number of medicinal and other uses, for which it is harvested from the wild. It is also often planted for ornament, making a useful shade tree[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Malaysia through Indo-China to northern Australia.

Habitat

An emergent or canopy tree in wet evergreen and seasonal primary forests at elevations up to 600 metres[]

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of the wet tropical evergreen lowland forests, it grows best at an altitude of 60 - 1,500 metres where the mean annual temperature is around 27°c and the mean annual rainfall is around 1,920 mm[].
Requires a position in full sun[]. Prefers a well-drained, light sandy soil[].
A fast-growing tree[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[]. The flowers of male plants emit a foetid, disgusting smell and, for that reason, male trees are not desirable to cultivate as an ornamental[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The resin is used medicinally[].

The bitter bark and sap of this plant contains alkaloids that have been used for medicinal preparations[].
The bark and leaves are renowned as a tonic, especially in debility after childbirth, they also possess febrifuge properties and are useful in dyspeptic complaints[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The leaf litter decomposes well to help restore soil fertility[].
The trees are used to act as supports for growing plack pepper (Piper nigrum)[].

Other Uses

The leaves are used to dye silk and satin black[, , ].

An essential oil is obtained from the bark[].

A gum is obtained from stem cuttings[]
The resin is used as incense[]. It is used in Hindu temples[].

The yellow wood is light in weight, soft and porous[]. It is used for making boats, matches, fishing floats and weaponry accessories such as sword handles and spear sheaths[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a short viability of only a few months[]. Seedlings need plenty of light to grow well[].

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