Tallow tree

Tallow Tree Sapium sebiferum)

Description

A small deciduous tree, Sapium sebiferum or Triadica sebifera, found in China and southeast Asia. The tallow tree has small, popcorn-shaped seeds covered with a waxy coating. The Wax is used for Soap, candles, and oil (Stillingia oil). The species was introduced into the U.S in colonial times and it is still occasionally sold as an ornamental plant. Because it is an invasive species, several states in the southeastern US have it listed as a noxious weed.

Tallow tree Triadica sebifera

Synonyms and Related Terms

Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum, Triadica sebifera); árbol de sebo (Esp.); vegetable tallow; Florida aspen; popcorn tree

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Tree height to 15 m
• Bark = light grayish brown with vertical fissures
• Flower = yellow catkins (length = 5-7 cm)
• Fruit = Pale brown capsules (1 cm) containing white waxy seeds

Additional Images

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  Tallow tree Triadica sebifera

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  Tallow Tree seed pods

Resources and Citations

• Virginia Tech Dendrology website at www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/main.htm (accessed Oct. 8, 2005) - gives name as Triadica sebifera

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallow_tree (Accessed Sept. 28, 2005) - gives name as Sapium sebiferum

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997