Re: Re: Alanthius,bleeding
FLANAGAN_PAT@msn.com
Sat, 12 Apr 1997 03:25:56 -0500
I suppose that I'm not alone in my distaste for the invasive characteristics of ailanthus. Perhaps this eyesore tree is beautiful in it's native oriental habitat, but it looks poorly here in North America. With the old growth forests almost dissapeared across this land, at least we ought to maintain a semblance of what America originally looked like for the enjoyment of future generations. I suppose the concept of a global village applies here, insofar as the world is beginning to look the same wherever you go (or at least resemble China everywhere). The huge pinnate leaf clusters, narrrow trunk and clustering habit of the "trash tree" have a tropical appearance which in my opinion does not harmonize well with the look of our temperate native vegetation. It irks me to see this tree dominating the scenery of the rural interstates in many areas, where a "Welcome to Maryland" roadsign over these last years may as well read " Welcome to Vietnam " because the feel of the scenery has cha
nged so drastically due
to ailanthus progression. Different regions of the world should have their own native flora and fauna, as the joy of travel itself is to get away from it all and enjoy the regional differences that exist. I fear that native tree species are at a competitive disadvantage with ailanthus, not so much from being wiped out completely by ailanthus but from my belief that even a small visibility of ailanthus can change the whole aesthetic of it's north american surroundings. This is not to say that ailanthus does not have value as a decorative furniture wood of limited marketability, but I would rather buy such furniture imported from far eastern artisans rather than from less skilled american carpenters. I don't care a great deal for mimosa either, whose flowers resemble mature dandelion. Individual tastes may vary and one must respect these differences, but ailanthus in particular (because of it's invasive, agressive characteristics) interests me.