6

Ailanthus triphysa (Dennst.) Alston

Synonym                    : Ailanthus malabarica DC.

Family                        : Simaroubaceae

Local Names              : Mattipala, Perumaram, Maharukh 

Flowering and fruiting period: January – May

Distribution: Indo-Malaysia and Australia

Habitat: Semi-evergreen forests, also planted in the plains

IUCN status: Data deficient

Endemic: No

Uses: Dye yielding, bowl carving, resin used as inscence, exudates is useful in making medicine, varnishes. axillary panicles; male flowers: sepal 5, ovate, imbricate; petals 5, valvate; disc 10-lobed; stamens 10; bisexual flowers: sepals and petals as in male flowers; stamens 2 or 3; ovary 5, superior. Fruit a samara, reddish-brown with rounded ends.

 Key Characters: Lofty deciduous trees, to 30 m high, bark grey, smooth. Leaves imparipinnate, alternate, crowded towards the apex of branches; leaflets opposite; lamina oblong-ovate, margin entire. Flowers polygamous, greenish-yellow, in axillary panicles; male flowers: sepal 5, ovate, imbricate; petals 5, valvate; disc 10-lobed; stamens 10; bisexual flowers: sepals and petals as in male flowers; stamens 2 or 3; ovary 5, superior. Fruit a samara, reddish-brown with rounded ends.