lacquer tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese lacquertree
• Japanese lacquertree
• Japanese sumac
• Japanese varnishtree
• lacquertree
• varnishtree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Toxicodendron verniciferum
• Rhus himalaica
• Rhus kaempferi
• Rhus verniciflua
• Toxicodendron vernicifluum var. shaanxiense
• Ailanthus scripta
• Rhus succedanea var. himalaica
• Rhus vernicifera var. silvestrii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales, falling into the family Anacardiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Toxicodendron.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several key regions in Asia. Within Central Asia, its distribution includes parts of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In the expansive territory of China, it can be found throughout the North-Central and South-Central provinces. Additionally, the species is well-established in the Manchuria region of China. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environmental range of Toxicodendron vernicifluum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Toxicodendron vernicifluum is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, typically occurring at elevations ranging from a minimum of 800 m AMSL to a maximum of 2800 m AMSL. On average, the species is most commonly found at a mean elevation of 1800 m AMSL, where environmental conditions suit its physiological requirements. In terms of specific environmental settings, this plant frequently colonizes disturbed or transitional areas, such as roadsides, where it can establish itself within the local landscape.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Habitat :

roadsides

Life history

The life history of Toxicodendron vernicifluum is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its natural habitat. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes a distinct seasonal cycle, shedding its foliage annually in response to environmental changes, typically during the autumn months. This seasonal transition is a critical component of its biological rhythm, marking the period of dormancy before new growth emerges in the following spring. Through its perennial nature, the plant manages to survive through multiple growing seasons, maintaining its structural integrity and reproductive potential over many years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Toxicodendron vernicifluum is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 20 m. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence rather than occupying aquatic or semiaquatic habitats. As a self-supporting tree, it does not exhibit climbing habits such as a liana or vine, instead relying on its own structural integrity for upright growth.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Toxicodendron vernicifluum is characterized by a metabolic framework utilizing the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common adaptation for temperate woody species that allows for carbon fixation through the enzyme RuBisCO under standard environmental conditions. This metabolic efficiency is complemented by the structural characteristics of its vegetative growth, specifically evidenced by a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 496 mg/cm³. This density indicates a moderate level of lignification and wood tissue compaction, which supports the plant's structural integrity and hydraulic conductivity while balancing the energetic costs of biomass production.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

496 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Toxicodendron vernicifluum is characterized by a specific flowering window and the production of small, distinct drupes. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes within the same month, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following pollination, the plant develops fruits that exhibit specific morphological dimensions; these fruits typically possess a mean length of 0.55 cm and a mean width of 0.75 cm. The size of the fruit is relatively consistent, with a minimum length of 0.5 cm and a maximum length of 0.6 cm, while the width ranges from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm.

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.55 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.75 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Toxicodendron vernicifluum has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Sulfuretin, Fisetin, Flavonoids, Fustin, butein.

Sulfuretin

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Fisetin

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. iScience

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Fustin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. ACS chemical neuroscience

butein

1. Planta medica
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Butin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. iScience

Urushiols

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Fitoterapia

2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

3,4-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Gallic acid

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Activities

Toxicodendron vernicifluum has 11 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Antitumor.

Antioxidant

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Annals of dermatology
3. Mediators of inflammation
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Nutrients

Anticancer

1. Annals of dermatology
2. Mediators of inflammation
3. Biomedicines

Antibacterial

1. Mediators of inflammation
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Annals of dermatology

Antitumor

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Nutrients

Antiapoptotic

1. Toxicological research

Antiviral

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemopreventive

1. Biomedicines

Cytotoxic

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Genotoxic

1. Toxicological research

Conditions

Toxicodendron vernicifluum has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include blood diseases, cancer, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress.

Blood diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mitochondrial dysfunction

1. Phytochemistry

Oxidative stress

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Oxidative stress injury

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Rheumatic diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tumor

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Viral diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Toxicodendron vernicifluum has 7 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EtOAc extracts, RV extract, Resina Toxicodendri, Rhus verniciflua Extracts, Rv-PEM01.

Etoac extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rv extract

1. Nutrients

Resina toxicodendri

1. Fitoterapia

Rhus verniciflua extracts

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Rv-pem01

1. Drug research

Extract

1. Nutrients

Water extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology