Sapium sebiferum: Uses (Ethnobotany)
used in candles, soaps, and cosmetics in China and Japan
Plant Profile: Sapium sebiferum
Taxonomy: Sapium sebiferumNames
Chinese Tallow Tree, Popcorn Tree
Phonetic Spelling:SAP-ee-um seb-EE-fer-um
Genus:Sapium
Species:sebiferum
Family:Euphorbiaceae
A non-native tree species found in the southeastern region.
Consumption of unripe fruit results in minimal toxicity, with skin irritation being either slight or temporary, lasting just a few minutes.
This species tends to thrive in disturbed environments, having escaped cultivation and become established in the wild.
Sapium sebiferum Feature Summary
Sapium sebiferum Image Gallery
Tags
#invasive
#weedy
#Braham Arboretum
Similar Plants
Sapium sebiferum Feature Summary
Attributes
used in candles, soaps, and cosmetics in China and Japan
introduced to NC, SC, GA, FL, LA, MS, AL, AR, TX, and CA
Woody
Fruit
poisonous
Berry
Flowers
8 inch long spiked flowers
Leaves
Poisonous to Humans
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin and eye irritation
Possibly diterpene esters
Medium
Sap/Juice
Fruits
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Coastal
Stem
Landscape
Accent
Poisonous to Humans
Weedy
Invasive Species
Sapium sebiferum Image Gallery
Sapium sebiferum Attributes
Sapium sebiferum: Country Or Region Of Origin
Asia
Sapium sebiferum: Distribution
introduced to NC, SC, GA, FL, LA, MS, AL, AR, TX, and CA
Sapium sebiferum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Sapium sebiferum Fruit
Sapium sebiferum: Fruit Description
poisonous
Sapium sebiferum: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Sapium sebiferum Flowers
Sapium sebiferum: Flower Description
8 inch long spiked flowers
Sapium sebiferum Leaves
Sapium sebiferum: Leaf Description
poisonous
Sapium sebiferum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Sapium sebiferum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Sapium sebiferum Poisonous to Humans
Sapium sebiferum: Poison Symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin and eye irritation
Sapium sebiferum: Poison Toxic Principle
Possibly diterpene esters
Sapium sebiferum: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Sapium sebiferum: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Sapium sebiferum: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Sapium sebiferum Whole Plant Traits
Sapium sebiferum: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Sapium sebiferum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Sapium sebiferum: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Sapium sebiferum Cultural Conditions
Sapium sebiferum: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Sapium sebiferum Stem
Sapium sebiferum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Sapium sebiferum Landscape
Sapium sebiferum: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Sapium sebiferum: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
