Chinese Tallow

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese tallowtree
• candleberry-tree
• popcorntree
• tallowtree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Excoecaria sebifera
• Sapium sebiferum
• Stillingia sebifera
• Carumbium sebiferum
• Seborium sebiferum
• Stillingfleetia sebifera
• Stillingia sinensis
• Croton sebiferum
• Sapium chihsinianum
• Sapium pleiocarpum
• Sapium sebiferum var. cordatum
• Sapium sebiferum var. dabeshanense
• Sapium sebiferum var. multiracemosum
• Sapium sebiferum var. pendulum
• Seborium chinense
• Triadica sinensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Triadica sebifera, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is further classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae within the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Euphorbiaceae and is categorized under the genus Triadica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several key regions in East Asia. Within China, its distribution is widespread, covering the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast areas. Furthermore, the species can be found specifically on the island of Hainan. Beyond the mainland, its range extends into the neighboring territory of Japan. Together, these locations define the specific ecological footprint of Triadica sebifera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Triadica sebipera is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically through its woody stem system, which classifies it under both phanerophyte life form designations. This structural habit is complemented by its deciduous nature, as the plant undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, a strategy typically employed to manage resources or respond to environmental fluctuations.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Triadica sebifera is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, typically reaching a mean height of 12 m, though it can be observed at heights of approximately 10 m. As a terrestrial organism, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic lifestyles, functioning instead as an independent species rather than a parasite or a hemi-epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting in its structure, possessing a robust woody constitution that allows it to maintain its upright stature without the need for climbing or liana-like behavior.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Triadica sebifera is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative structure exhibits significant morphological variability in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, maintaining an average length of 5.5 cm. Complementing this, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, with a mean width recorded at 6 cm. In terms of structural composition, the plant possesses a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 561 mg/cm³, reflecting its internal tissue density and mechanical support capabilities. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, indicating that it relies on external soil nutrient availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing mechanisms to satisfy its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

9 cm

Leaf width mean:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

561 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Triadica sebifera is characterized by a monoecious sexual reproduction system. The flowering period typically commences in March and concludes in May, though the timing can be variable throughout the year. During the flowering stage, the plant produces inflorescences that range in length from a minimum of 0.06 m to a maximum of 0.12 m. The pollination process is biotic, primarily utilizing an insect syndrome with a specific emphasis on bees. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. These fruits vary in width, with a mean measurement of 1.25 cm, ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm. The fruit is dehiscent, meaning it splits open at maturity to release its contents. The seeds produced are dispersed via a zoochorous syndrome, which relies on animals for movement. The individual seeds possess a mean mass of approximately 0.154793 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.06623 g to a maximum of 0.1952 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

May

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.12 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.06 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

monoecious

Seed mass max:

0.1952 g

Seed mass mean:

0.154793 g

Seed mass min:

0.06623 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Triadica sebifera has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products
2. Bioscience reports
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Triadica sebifera has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Phorbol Esters, 12-Deoxyphorbol, 4-Deoxyphorbol, 6-O-Galloyl-D-glucose, Gallic acid.

Phorbol Esters

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology

12-Deoxyphorbol

1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology

4-Deoxyphorbol

1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology

6-O-Galloyl-D-glucose

1. Journal of natural products

Gallic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Hyperin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

METHYL GALLATE

1. Bioscience reports

Methyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate

1. Bioscience reports

RUTIN

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Preparations

Triadica sebifera has 3 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaves, powder, saps/latex.

Leaves

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Powder

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Saps/latex

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology