One tree diagram that can be slip for a shumac is the tree - of - heaven ( Ailanthus altissima ) . The tree diagram - of - heaven is an incursive specie that can be found in many part of the United States . It has some similarities to both the black walnut ( Juglans nigra ) and the staghorn sumac ( genus Rhus typhina ) , but there are a few key characteristics that can facilitate you distinguish it from these native look - alikes .

First , countenance ’s talk about the tree - of - Shangri-la . It is a fast - grow deciduous tree that can reach heights of up to 80 pes . The barque of the tree diagram is smooth and light grey in colour , with bring up lenticels that give it a somewhat scratchy texture . The leafage are compound and can be quite big , typically measuring between 1 and 4 feet long . Each foliage is made up of 11 to 41 folder , which are lancet - shape and have serrated edge .

One of the most distinguishing features of the tree diagram - of - heaven is its distinctive odor . When you crush the leave or barque of the tree diagram , it emits a solid , unpleasant smell that has been described as similar to rotting peanuts or burnt condom . This olfactory perception can be quite overpowering and serves as a sound indicator of the presence of a tree - of - heaven .

In term of fruit , the tree - of - heaven develop clusters of wing ejaculate that are similar in appearance to those of the sumac . However , the seeds of the tree - of - nirvana are larger and have a more elongated physique . They are wakeful brown in color and have a papery texture . The seeds are often diffuse by wind , which contributes to the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s ability to overspread rapidly and establish itself in Modern orbit .

Now , let ’s liken the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - of - heaven to the grim walnut tree and the staghorn sumac . The black walnut tree is a aboriginal tree that can also farm quite improbable , reaching heights of up to 100 feet . Its bark is sullen browned to sinister and deeply rugged , apply it a rough and broken visual aspect . The leaves of the dark walnut are compound and typically have 15 to 23 leaflets . Each leaflet is ellipse - shape with serrated edge . Unlike the tree - of - heaven , the dim walnut does not have a strong odor when the leaves or bark are crush .

The staghorn sumac is another aboriginal tree that can be mistaken for the tree - of - heaven . It is a smaller tree or shrub that typically grow to be around 15 to 25 feet grandiloquent . The bark of the staghorn shumac is smooth and gray - brown , with a slightly fuzzy texture . The leaves are also colonial and have serrate boundary , but they are typically smaller in size compare to the tree - of - Eden . Each leaflet is lance - shaped and has a pointed crest . The fruit of the staghorn sumac are small , red , and foggy , forming dense clustering that resemble the shape of a cone .

The tree diagram - of - heaven can be tell apart from the smutty walnut and staghorn shumac by its typical odor , declamatory compound leafage , and elongate winged seeded player . While both the smuggled walnut tree and staghorn sumac have chemical compound parting and similar leaflet form , they can be differentiated from the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - of - heaven by their bark characteristics and yield appearance . It is of import to be able to describe the tree diagram - of - heaven accurately as an invasive species to foreclose its spread and wangle its populations efficaciously .

Caroline Bates