Chinese tallow Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum) originates in eastern Asia where 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 plant is an invasive species in the southern United States. It was introduced in colonial times and has become naturalized from South Carolina southward along the Atlantic and the entire Gulf coast, where it grows profusely along ditchbanks and dikes.
Although the plant is listed as a noxious weed by many states, it is still sold in nurseries as an ornamental tree. It is not choosy about soil types or drainage, but will not grow in deep shade. Its waxy attractive green leaves set off the clusters of white flowers at bloom time. Later brown seeds form, with a waxy outer coat. The wax is harvested by placing the seeds in hot water, and skimming the surface of the water. Though other parts of the plant are toxic, the wax is not, and it can be used as a substitute for vegetable oil in cooking.
The nectar is also non-toxic, and it has become a major honey plant for beekeepers. The honey is not of high quality, being sold as bakery grade, but is produced copiously at a barren time of year, after most of the other spring bloom is done. In the Gulf coast states, beekeepers migrate with their honeybees to good tallow locations near the sea.
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