Chinese tallowtree |
Plants: Hardwood Trees |
|
Magnoliopsida > Euphorbiales > Euphorbiaceae > Triadica sebifera (L.) Small
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| Synonym(s): Chinese tallow, popcorn tree, Florida aspen, chicken tree |
| Chinese tallowtree (popcorn tree) is a deciduous tree reaching 60 ft. (18.3 m) in height and 3 ft. (0.9 m) in diameter. Leaves are alternate, heart-shaped, 2-3 in. (5.1-7.6 cm) long with a long, pointed tip. Flowering occurs from April to June. The flowers are yellowish and occur on 8 in. (20 cm) long, dangling spikes. Three-lobed, greenish fruit are found in clusters at the end of branches. Fruit mature to black and then open to reveal the white wax covered seeds. Tallow tree invades wet areas such as stream banks and ditches but can also invade drier upland sites. Chinese tallowtree is a serious threat because of its ability to invade high quality, undisturbed forests. It can displace native vegetation as well as alter soil conditions due to the high amount of tannins present in the leaf litter. Chinese tallowtree is a native of China and was introduced into South Carolina in 1776 for ornamental purposes and seed oil production. |
| Image |
Descriptor |
Description |
Photographer |
| 0016033 |
Bark |
in September |
James H. Miller |
| 2151096 |
Bark |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2151097 |
Bark |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2307039 |
Bark |
September |
James H. Miller |
| 5308088 |
Diagram or Graphic |
|
Suzanne Foster |
| 5005006 |
Feature(s) |
fall color |
Ronald F. Billings |
| 1879001 |
Feature(s) |
bark of mature tree and green leaves |
Cheryl McCormick |
| 1264058 |
Feature(s) |
Foliage and flowers. Tift County, GA |
Chuck Bargeron |
| 1264059 |
Feature(s) |
Foliage and flowers. Tift County, GA |
Chuck Bargeron |
| 0016032 |
Flower(s) |
and leaves in June |
Ted Bodner |
| 1203109 |
Flower(s) |
|
Carl Dennis |
| 1264056 |
Flower(s) |
Developing flowers. Tift County, GA |
Chuck Bargeron |
| 1264057 |
Flower(s) |
Developing flowers. Tift County, GA |
Chuck Bargeron |
| 2131093 |
Flower(s) |
|
Mark Atwater |
| 5276074 |
Flower(s) |
|
Tony Pernas |
| 5276075 |
Flower(s) |
|
Tony Pernas |
| 5276090 |
Flower(s) |
|
Tony Pernas |
| 5392568 |
Flower(s) |
Catkin |
John M. Randall |
| 5402741 |
Flower(s) |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 5402742 |
Flower(s) |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 5402743 |
Foliage |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 5392571 |
Foliage |
|
John M. Randall |
| 5389608 |
Foliage |
|
Nancy Loewenstein |
| 5389609 |
Foliage |
|
Nancy Loewenstein |
| 5402752 |
Foliage |
|
Joseph LaForest |
| 5403684 |
Foliage |
|
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 5403685 |
Foliage |
|
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 2190049 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2307038 |
Foliage |
June |
Ted Bodner |
| 2307043 |
Foliage |
November |
James H. Miller |
| 2155030 |
Foliage |
|
John D. Byrd |
| 2190047 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1499041 |
Foliage |
|
Tony Pernas |
| 1879005 |
Foliage |
green leaves and unripened fruit |
Cheryl McCormick |
| 1879006 |
Foliage |
green leaves and unripened fruit |
Cheryl McCormick |
| 1879007 |
Foliage |
|
Cheryl McCormick |
| 1879008 |
Foliage |
|
Cheryl McCormick |
| 1879009 |
Foliage |
|
Cheryl McCormick |
| 1879010 |
Foliage |
|
Cheryl McCormick |
| 1879011 |
Foliage |
|
Cheryl McCormick |
| 1879012 |
Foliage |
|
Cheryl McCormick |
| 1879013 |
Foliage |
|
Cheryl McCormick |
| 1879014 |
Foliage |
|
Cheryl McCormick |
| 0016234 |
Foliage |
fall foliage |
James H. Miller |
| 0016035 |
Foliage |
in October |
Ted Bodner |
| 1116087 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Charles T. Bryson |
| 0016034 |
Fruit(s) |
Ripening fruit and waxy coated seeds in September |
James H. Miller |
| 0016202 |
Fruit(s) |
fruit and waxy coated seeds |
James H. Miller |
| 1346096 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1346097 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1264075 |
Fruit(s) |
Tift County, GA |
Chris Evans |
| 1264076 |
Fruit(s) |
Tift County, GA |
Chris Evans |
| 2307040 |
Fruit(s) |
September |
James H. Miller |
| 1879003 |
Fruit(s) |
ripened fruit with tallow coating; foliage just starting to change |
Cheryl McCormick |
| 5391747 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Barry Rice |
| 5369244 |
Fruit(s) |
Fruit and seeds |
Joseph LaForest |
| 5392572 |
Fruit(s) |
|
John M. Randall |
| 5392574 |
Infestation |
|
John M. Randall |
| 5402744 |
Infestation |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 2151095 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5402740 |
Infestation |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 1879004 |
Infestation |
invading a box elder forest, understory is dense, montypic mat of tallow seedling
Photo taken at Payne's Praire NWR, outside of Gainesville, Fla - May 1999 |
Cheryl McCormick |
| 2132025 |
Infestation |
Tallow tree, privet, mimosa, and cogongrass infestation |
James H. Miller |
| 2132049 |
Infestation |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 2132050 |
Infestation |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 2151093 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2155032 |
Infestation |
Showing fall color |
John D. Byrd |
| 1264077 |
Infestation |
Tift County, GA |
Chris Evans |
| 1116091 |
Infestation |
Fall color |
Charles T. Bryson |
| 3694011 |
|
3-lobed fruit |
James R. Allison |
| 3694012 |
|
|
James R. Allison |
| 4064040 |
|
heavy infestation in Paseagoula, Miss. |
James R. Allison |
| 4064041 |
|
|
James R. Allison |
| 5276076 |
Plant(s) |
|
Tony Pernas |
| 5078022 |
Plant(s) |
Sprouts at the edge of a field |
David J. Moorhead |
| 5331038 |
Plant(s) |
|
Dennis Teague |
| 5392570 |
Plant(s) |
Green leaves |
John M. Randall |
| 1116092 |
Plant(s) |
|
Charles T. Bryson |
| 1116093 |
Plant(s) |
|
Charles T. Bryson |
| 1116088 |
Plant(s) |
|
Charles T. Bryson |
| 1116089 |
Plant(s) |
|
Charles T. Bryson |
| 1116090 |
Plant(s) |
|
Charles T. Bryson |
| 2148049 |
Plant(s) |
Spring foliage; Late March, Central Florida |
Zhihong Pan |
| 5403084 |
Seed(s) |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 5308089 |
Seed(s) |
|
USDA PLANTS Database |
| 5309018 |
Seed(s) |
|
Steve Hurst |
| 5369246 |
Seed(s) |
|
Joseph LaForest |
| 5369247 |
Seedling(s) |
Tallow tree seedling on roadside next to stop sign. Virginia creeper (Parthenocisus quinquefolia) growing up sign post |
Joseph LaForest |
| 5369245 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Joseph LaForest |
| 2151090 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2151091 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2151092 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2151094 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2132051 |
Seedling(s) |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 2151099 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 1879002 |
Stand |
|
Cheryl McCormick |
| 1879015 |
Stand |
|
Cheryl McCormick |
| 0016031 |
Tree(s) |
in May |
Thomas Ellis, Jr. |
| 2151098 |
Tree(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2155028 |
Tree(s) |
|
John D. Byrd |
| 2155029 |
Tree(s) |
|
John D. Byrd |
| 2155031 |
Tree(s) |
Showing fall color |
John D. Byrd |
| 2155096 |
Tree(s) |
Fall color |
John D. Byrd |
| 2155097 |
Tree(s) |
Fall color |
John D. Byrd |
| 2190048 |
Tree(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2307041 |
Tree(s) |
December |
James H. Miller |
| 2307044 |
Tree(s) |
May |
James H. Miller |
| 5392569 |
Tree(s) |
Young tree |
John M. Randall |
| 5402745 |
Tree(s) |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 5402746 |
Tree(s) |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 5402739 |
Tree(s) |
|
Rebekah D. Wallace |
| 5392573 |
Tree(s) |
|
John M. Randall |
| 5331037 |
Tree(s) |
|
Dennis Teague |
| 5369243 |
Tree(s) |
|
Joseph LaForest |
| 5403682 |
Tree(s) |
|
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 5403683 |
Tree(s) |
|
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 9005091 |
Tree(s) |
in December |
James H. Miller |
| 2307042 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
September |
James H. Miller |
| 0016036 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
stems and twigs in September |
James H. Miller |
| 1264060 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
Tift County, GA |
Chuck Bargeron |
| 1264074 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
Tift County, GA |
Chris Evans |
|
