Bai Juyi wrote a poem in Under the Forest:? Xiangtan Wengui painstakingly carved, how is physiology self-sufficient? If you know that I am old, I will never lose one branch. ? This means that although I don't have the talent of Ailanthus altissima, I can support my life without loss.
In our traditional culture, Ailanthus altissima is useless. If you describe it as Ailanthus altissima's talent, it means that this person is useless. So is Ailanthus altissima really useless?
Ailanthus altissima and Toona sinensis are very similar in appearance, but in fact they are far apart. Ailanthus altissima belongs to Araliaceae of Sapindaceae and Toona sinensis belongs to Meliaceae of Sapindaceae.
Ailanthus altissima is a useless tree species in China. First of all, it is too loose to be used as furniture, and it is not straight, which is embarrassing and useful. In addition, its branches and leaves will give off a pungent smell, with a bad smell, which is very unpleasant. Fruits and leaves contain trace toxicity and cannot be eaten.
Although people think this kind of tree is embarrassing and talented, it is precisely because of this that it has escaped the damage of axes and saws and can live a life without wind and rain.
Ailanthus altissima is a very speculative plant, but also a very overbearing plant. In the environment where Ailanthus altissima grows, few other vegetation can survive, because Ailanthus altissima can produce a chemical: Ailanthus altissima, which will inhibit the growth of other plants.
Scientists have shown through a study that this chemical will prevent the seeds of Oenanthe javanica from sprouting; It can also kill almost 100% of seedlings except abutilon, and only abutilon has resistance.
In addition, Ailanthus altissima also threatens the survival of other trees. In North America, there are 1 1 species of broad-leaved trees and 34 species of conifers that cannot survive in the living environment of Ailanthus altissima.
Although Ailanthus altissima is overbearing, it is good for its own seedlings and will not affect the growth of Ailanthus altissima seedlings around it. This is because Ailanthus altissima contains a defense system to resist chemical reagents released by the same kind.
Ailanthus altissima has strong vitality, and their roots are well developed. They can not only sow seedlings through seeds, but also germinate seedlings through roots. Therefore, in many countries, once Ailanthus altissima takes root and germinates locally, it will be as difficult to completely eliminate as an alien invasive organism.
In Switzerland, there is even a special team to clean up Ailanthus altissima, but even so, it is not easy to completely eliminate Ailanthus altissima. Only when the seedlings of Ailanthus altissima are found every year can they be pulled up every year, just like the little prince cleans up the seedlings of baobabs every day.
The role of Ailanthus altissima Although Ailanthus altissima is called a useless talent, it is actually a genius in the wrong place.
Ailanthus altissima is one of the most pollution-resistant tree species. It can grow in areas with serious sulfur dioxide pollution, absorb these substances through leaves and purify the air.
They can also survive exposure to ozone, and can withstand dust and smog weather in cement. More importantly, Ailanthus altissima can enrich mercury in soil and purify local soil.
In other words, they are actually species that can live in polluted environment, can survive in some environments where vegetation is degraded by pollution, and can also be planted on both sides of roads to absorb harmful substances in the air.
In fact, Ailanthus altissima was introduced to many places in northern Europe after World War II, because Ailanthus altissima can grow in places full of construction waste, and almost no other vegetation can survive in such places.
There are many places where Ailanthus altissima is regarded as a natural insecticide, because Ailanthus altissima contains a small amount of toxicity, which rarely causes diseases and insect pests.
Ailanthus altissima fiber can be used to make paper, leaves can be used to raise silkworms, and bark, roots and fruits can be used as medicine, which has anti-infection and anti-allergic effects.
It is precisely because of these characteristics that Ailanthus altissima is not a useless talent, but an excellent material to purify the air and improve the soil.
To sum up, Ailanthus altissima is useless because we didn't know enough about Ailanthus altissima in ancient times. We only see that Ailanthus altissima can't be eaten or used as wood, and it is difficult for other vegetation to grow where it grows.
Today, however, the chemical Ailanthus altissima has anti-infection and anti-inflammatory effects. Ailanthus altissima can survive in heavily polluted places and absorb sulfur dioxide in the air and mercury in the soil, thus purifying the air and improving the soil.
Ailanthus altissima grows very fast, and it can grow into a towering tree in just a few years, which can be used as a landscape tree or green tree on both sides of the road.
So Ailanthus altissima is not a useless talent, but a treasure everywhere.