THE SYSTEM OF AILANTHUS ALTISSIMA (MILL.) SWINGLE GENUS

Abstract

The existence of human society is impossible to imagine without plant introduction. Particular attention is paid to plants that combine valuable ornamental, medicinal, fruit, technical and phytomelioration properties. These include Ailant highest (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle). Thus our research aims at investigation of phylogenetic, biological and ecological characteristics of the species, its reproduction and use. In the course of study the authors have studied the phylogenetic system of Ailanthus (Mill.) Swingle genus according to the literature sources. We have confirmed that it belongs to the plant group of flowering or angiosperms (Magnoliophita, or Angiospermae), Magnolioopsida or flowering class (Magnolioopsida, or Dicotyledones), Rosidae division, Sapindales order, Simaroubaceae family and includes about 30 genera and 200 species that grow in natural habitats in the tropics of Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands. We have also learnt that the species of the genus Ailanthus is limited to the three most common types such as: Ailant highest or Chinese ash (Ailanthus altissima), Ailant normal (Ailanthus excelsa), Ailant trifoliate (Ailanthus triphylla) and three decorative forms: 'Rhodocarpa' Th.Kal, 'Albo-variegata' Th.Kal, 'Pendulifolia' (Carr.) Rehd. Only one type of Ailant highest (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle) is introduced in Ukraine. The researches have also found that according I. Kowarik Nooteboom (1962), Ailanthus altissima is one of five species within the genus of Ailanthus Desf. Unlike A. altissima, A. excelsa Roxb, A. integrifolia Lam., A. triphysa (Dennst.) Olston, A. fordii Desf., which grow in the subtropical range. However, it is appropriate to focus on synonyms Ailanthus altissima: Ailanthus erythrocarpa Carriere (1877), Ailanthus giraldii Dode (1907), Ailanthus glandulosa Desf. (1786), etc. Systematics of the genus Ailanthus in Ukraine is still poorly understood. In modern scientific literature descriptions of species of the genus Ailanthus are limited to the three most common types: Ailant highest or Chinese ash (Ailanthus altissima), Ailant normal (Ailanthus excelsa), Ailant trifoliate (Ailanthus triphylla) and three decorative forms: 'Rhodocarpa' Th.Kal, 'Albo-variegata' Th.Kal, 'Pendulifolia' (Carr.) Rehd. To conclude, examining the genus Ailanthus system for AL Takhtadzhyan (1987) and modern system ARG III found that the difference is only referred to the Procedure according Sapindales and Rutales. The analysis of published data and survey collections of botanical gardens makes allows estimating that only one species of the genus Ailanthus – Ailanthus altissima (Mill) Swingle is introduced in Ukraine.