ailanthus

—ailanthic, adj.

/ay lan"theuhs/, n., pl. ailanthuses.

any tree belonging to the genus Ailanthus, of the quassia family, esp. A. altissima, widely grown in cities. Cf. tree of heaven.

[1788; < NL Ailantus, Ailanthus (th by assoc. with Gk ánthos flower) < Central Moluccan ai lanit(o), ai lanit(e), equiv. to ai tree, wood + lanit sky + -o, -e a definite article]

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Any of the flowering plants that make up the genus Ailanthus, in the quassia family (Simaroubaceae), native to eastern and southern Asia and northern Australia and naturalized in subtropical and temperate regions elsewhere.

Ailanthus leaves alternate along the stem and are composed of multiple leaflets arranged along an axis. The most familiar species is the tree of heaven.

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▪ plant

      Any of the flowering plants that make up the genus Ailanthus, in the quassia family (Simaroubaceae), native to eastern and southern Asia and northern Australia and naturalized in subtropical and temperate regions elsewhere. Ailanthus leaves alternate along the stem and are composed of multiple leaflets arranged along an axis. The most familiar species is the tree of heaven.

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