Back at the beginning of Summer (remember Summer?), we encountered the male Ailanthus tree, with its "objectionable" smell. The female of this Asian species is just as weedy, but its flowers lack the odor, and the ripe samaras are actually rather attractive, tinged with Autumnal red. Still, it\'s not a tree that anyone plants on purpose. Nor do they need to, as the wind-scattered seeds will sprout just about anywhere.





Another Oriental import, the Gingko, provides an interesting contrast. Called the Maidenhair tree, for its uniquely shaped leaves (note the lack of a central vein), the Gingko is the last member of an ancient lineage, going back to the Mesozoic Era. Its survival in historical times may be due to its sacred status in China, where it was often planted at Buddhist monasteries. Brought to the West in the colonial era, it\'s become a popular ornamental, as well loved as the Ailanthus is despised. But it too has a sex-linked problem: the fruits, when bruised, emit a lingering odor that's been compared to rancid butter. Because of this, only male trees are generally planted, but there are a few females in the Park, as you can see, above. The smell derives from the fleshy outer layer of the fruit, but within is an edible nut. I've seen elderly Chinese women in the Park, harvesting the nuts by whacking the crowns with long poles, and collecting the fallen fruit. It's illegal, but no one seems to mind, and stopping them might constitute some sort of ethnic discrimination.

Personally, I'd rather turn to some of our native nuts, edible, or not?