Japanese wax tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• sumac
• Japanese waxtree
• red-lac
• rhustree
• scarlet rhus

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rhus succedanea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Sapindales and the family Anacardiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Toxicodendron.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several distinct regions of China. It can be found throughout the South-Central areas of the country, spanning various landscapes. The species also thrives on the tropical island of Hainan. In the northern reaches, its distribution extends into Inner Mongolia. Finally, the plant is documented within the high-altitude territories of Qinghai and the North-Central provinces.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Toxicodendron succedaneum is defined by its adaptation to diverse montane forest environments, where it thrives across a specific vertical gradient. This species occupies a notable altitudinal niche, establishing itself in habitats ranging from an elevation of 600 m AMSL to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL. Within this range, its distribution is closely tied to the moisture availability and temperature regimes characteristic of mid-to-high altitude ecosystems. By spanning these diverse elevation levels, the plant demonstrates a capacity to integrate into varied forest structures, often serving as a component of the submontane and montane vegetation layers where specific soil compositions and light availability support its growth patterns.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Toxicodendron succedaneum is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, ensuring its persistence in the ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems above the ground level, a growth habit that categorizes it within the phanerophyte life forms. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, typically in response to environmental changes or temperature shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Toxicodendron succedaneum is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. This terrestrial species exhibits significant variation in stature, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 40 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 9 meters. Although it possesses a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climbing vine or liana, its robust woody nature allows it to reach substantial dimensions within its ecosystem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

9 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Toxicodendron succedaneum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant features lanceolate leaf forms with entire margins, and it lacks both leaf thorns and leaf spines, contributing to its specific morphological profile. Structurally, the plant exhibits a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 612 mg/cm³, indicating its internal tissue composition and mechanical strength. Furthermore, Toxicodendron succedaneum does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its metabolic requirements.

Leaf form :

lanceolate

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

612 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Toxicodendron succedaneum is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, relying heavily on biological agents rather than abiotic factors to facilitate fertilization. Specifically, the plant utilizes insect pollination, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. The species exhibits an absence of self-fertilization, suggesting a requirement for cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. The resulting reproductive structures produce fleshy fruits that contain seeds of varying dimensions. These seeds exhibit a seed volume ranging from a minimum of 23 mm³ to a maximum of 71 mm³, with an average volume of approximately 41.67 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds are relatively lightweight, with a minimum mass of 0.0455 g, a maximum mass of 0.08065 g, and a mean seed mass of 0.063075 g.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.08065 g

Seed mass mean:

0.063075 g

Seed mass min:

0.0455 g

Seed volume max:

71 mm³

Seed volume mean:

41.6666666666667 mm³

Seed volume min:

23 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Toxicodendron succedaneum has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Agathisflavone, Amentoflavone, Flavonoids, GB-1a, GB-1a hexamethyl ether.

Agathisflavone

1. Journal of natural products

Amentoflavone

1. Journal of natural products

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

GB-1a

1. Journal of natural products

GB-1a hexamethyl ether

1. Journal of natural products

GB-2a

1. Journal of natural products

Hinokiflavone

1. Journal of natural products

Morelloflavone

1. Journal of natural products

Morelloflavone heptamethyl ether

1. Journal of natural products

Rhusflavanone

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Toxicodendron succedaneum has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Toxicodendron succedaneum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include blood diseases.

Blood diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Toxicodendron succedaneum has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EtOH extract of the sap.

Etoh extract of the sap

1. Journal of natural products