Ailanthus excelsa

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

Botanical Name : Ailanthus excelsa Roxb.
Common Name : Arduso, Indian Tree of Heaven
Plant Family : Simaroubaceae
Plant Form : Tree
Occurrence (Sectors) : 1, 6, 8, 10 - 22, 25 - 30
Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Ayurvedic Udyan, Van Chetana Kendra, Infocity, Aranya Van

Habit : Tall, deciduous tree.
Stem : Erect, cylindrical, branched, solid with greenish - white or grey smooth bark.
Leaves : 60 - 100 cm long, crowded at ends of branches, leaflets 9 - 29, subopposite, ovate - lanceolate, coriaceous, densely pilose, at length glabrous.
Flowers : Yellow in terminal and axillary, hairy panicles.
Fruits : Samara, spindle - shaped, glabrous, one - seeded, reticulately veined.
Seeds : Glabrous, oblong.
Flowering and Fruiting time : Dec - Mar ; Feb - May
Significance :
- The leaves and bitter bark is employed in folk medicine as a tonic and cure for fever, bronchitis and dyspepsia
- The wood is soft and light and is used mainly for packing cases, toys, fishing floats and for carving.