Tree of Heaven

Tree of Heaven

Ailanthus excelsa

Beng: Mahanim, Hindi: Maharukh

A large deciduous tree with a neat dome-shaped crown. The main branches typically emerge at right angles to the main massive trunk before swerving upwards. Its unevenly serrated leaves resemble neem to some extant (only to a much large scale, and usually without the terminal leaflet)

Leaves: Up to 3’ long with 8-14 pairs of not-quite-opposite leaflets which are unevenly serrated and (like neem) asymmetrical at base

Trunk/Bark: Grey, corky, thick with intense vertical fissure. (bark of old trees has some resemblance to wrinkly skin on an elephant’s feet)

Flower: Small, yellowish, with five petals, in drooping clusters. Male and female flowers are usually found in separate trees.

Fruit: Thin papery pods in cluster. Pale green at first turning yellow and finally brown.

Seasons: The leaves fall in the cold season and are replaced in March and April. The flowers appear at the end of the cold season, and the seeds ripen in May or June.

Range/Habitat: Native to drier parts of central east and peninsular India south of the Ganges. Not native to Kolkata.

Where to Find: One tree on the Menoka cinema side of the Rabindra Sarobar, Kolkata. GPS: 22.51225, 88.36311