From native Moluccan ailanto — sky tree.

Vergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate and mostly compound with a terminal leaflet, clustered at the end of the branches. Leaflets more or less opposite. Flower clusters axillary, branched. Calyx 5-lobed. Petals generally 6. Stamens 10 in male flowers, rudimentary or absent in female flowers. Disk with 10 lobes. Carpels 2-5 with free ovaries, sometimes reduced in male flowers. Fruit a cluster of 1-5 samaras.

Seed.

A. malabarica has a resin used as incense in Hindu temples and the leaves yield a black dye; the Chinese A. vilmoriniana is used as a source of food for the silkworm used in the production of Shantung silk.

Leaves mostly compound and alternate with opposite leaflets; fruit a samara.

About 5 species from Asia to Australia (2 native species).

Hu (1979).

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Simaroubaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.