the chinese tallow tree came from eastern asia.
the chinese tallow tree came from eastern asia.
where did the chinese tallow tree come from?
eastern asia
triadica sebifera (syn. "sapium sebiferum"), the chinese tallow, chinese tallowtree, florida aspen, chicken tree, gray popcorn tree, or candleberry tree, is a tree native to eastern asia. it is native to eastern china, and taiwan, and introduced to japan in edo period. the waxy coating of the seeds is used for candle and soap making, and the leaves are used as herbal medicine to treat boils. the plant sap and leaves are reputed to be toxic, and decaying leaves from the plant are toxic to other species of plants. the specific epithets "sebifera" and "sebiferum" mean "wax-bearing" and refer to the tallow that coats the seeds.
triadica sebifera
in the houston area, chinese tallow trees account for a full 23 percent of all trees, more than any other tree species and is the only invasive tree species in the 14 most common species in the area. the texas department of agriculture lists chinese tallow as one of the 24 most invasive plants, and includes chinese tallow in a list of noxious and invasive plants which are illegal to sell, distribute or import into texas. herbivores and insects have a conditioned behavioral avoidance to eating the leaves of chinese tallow tree, and this, rather than plant toxins, may be a reason for the success of the plant as an invasive.
triadica sebifera