Practical
Plants

Rhus verniciflua

Lacquer Tree

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Rhus genus in the family Anacardiaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Rhus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
15 m
Spread
10 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant contains toxic substances that can cause severe irritation to some people[18][7]. The sap can be particularly caustic[3]. All parts of the plant contain resinous phenolic compounds known as urushiols. Direct contacr with the plant, exposure to smoke or fumes from a burning plant or even contact with pets or animals that have touched the plant can cause severe allergic dermatitis in some individuals. There is usually a latent period of about 12 - 24 hours from the moment of contact, this is followed by a reddening and severe blistering of the skin. Even plant specimens 100 or more years old can cause problems[10].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Stimulant, tonic[6]. The leaves are used in the treatment of wasting diseases and internal parasites[9]. The seed is haemostatic and is used in the treatment of dysentery[9]. A resin from the plant is emmenagogue, haemolytic, stimulant, tonic and vermifuge[9]. Some caution is advised in the use of the leaves and stems of this plant, see the notes above on toxicity.

Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A non-drying oil is obtained from the fruit and is used in making candles[1][3][12][13][16][2]. The fruit contains about 25% fat[9]. The fruit is crushed, heated and then crushed to extract the oil[K]. The oil attains a tallow-like consistency on standing and is used to make candles. These burn brilliantly, though they emit a pungent smoke[11]. The sap can be used as a varnish or a lacquer. It is obtained by incision of the stem[1][11][3][7][13][16], which is best done in mid-summer[15]. The lacquer is frequently used in Japanese art, it requires a damp atmosphere in which to dry and harden, a moist cave being ideal[15]. It is resistant to acids, alkalis, alcohol and temperatures up to 70°c[5]. The leaves and galls formed as a result of insect damage are rich in tannin[11]. The leaves can be collected as they fall in the autumn and used as a brown dye or as a mordant[4].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Lacquer
Product or use
Mordant
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Wax

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat
Woods and thickets on mountain slopes[2], usually around 1200 metres[15].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in hot water (starting at a temperature of 80 - 90c and allowing it to cool) prior to sowing in order to leach out any germination inhibitors[8]. The stored seed also needs hot water treatment and can be sown in early spring in a cold frame[8]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[8]. Root cuttings 4cm long taken in December and potted up vertically in a greenhouse. Good percentage[17][8]. Suckers in late autumn to winter[8].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in a well-drained fertile soil in full sun[3][8]. One report says that this species is only hardy into zone 9 (tolerating only occasional light frosts)[8] but there are large healthy trees at Cambridge and Edinburgh Botanical gardens, and both sites had fruiting trees in September 1989[K]. Plants have brittle branches and these can be broken off in strong winds[8]. Plants are also susceptible to coral spot fungus[3]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[8]. Cultivated for its lacquer in the warmer areas of Japan[14][2]. Many of the species in this genus, including this one, are highly toxic and can also cause severe irritation to the skin of some people, whilst other species are not poisonous. It is relatively simple to distinguish which is which, the poisonous species have axillary panicles and smooth fruits whilst non-poisonous species have compound terminal panicles and fruits covered with acid crimson hairs[1][11]. The toxic species are sometimes separated into their own genus, Toxicodendron, by some botanists[8]. Partly dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  4. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩

  5. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  6. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  7. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

    ↩1↩2

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  9. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  11. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  13. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩1↩2

  14. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

  15. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩1↩2↩3

  16. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  17. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  18. Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7225-0445-4

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