# Sperm trees of... Toronto?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sperm-trees-of-toronto/546860>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [July 16, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sperm-trees-of-toronto/546860 "2010-07-16T00:55:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sperm-trees-of-toronto/546860/1 "2010-07-16T00:55:01Z")

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As a follow-up to the “[Sperm Trees of Los Angeles](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/569/i-want-to-get-my-nipples-pierced-are-there-health-risks)” column, apparently they’re [in Toronto](http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/836481--sperm-tree-spreads-its-seed-in-toronto), and they’re the [ailanthus, or tree of heaven](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_Heaven).

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**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sperm-trees-of-toronto/546860/2 "2010-07-16T00:59:17Z")

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(And man, doesn’t that segment about nipple piercing look dated now!)

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**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sperm-trees-of-toronto/546860/3 "2010-07-16T16:19:05Z")

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I don’t have semen trees, but found that certain mushrooms growing in the hedges by my front door emit that same odor. I have taken to digging them out as soon as they sprout or begin to sprout (become visible), which has improved things greatly.