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Sapium sebiferum
  • Vegetable Tallow

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Sapium genus in the family Euphorbiaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Earth stabiliser
    Earth stabiliser
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 9
    Zone 9
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Sapium sebiferum has 1 edible uses listed
Sapium sebiferum has 9 material uses listed
Sapium sebiferum has 10 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The sap is poisonous[1].

Edible uses

Notes

The wax from the seed is used as a lard substitute or in cacao butter[2][3]. The seed contains 8.1 - 9.2% protein and 40.5 - 50.7% fat[4].

Unknown part

Oil

Material uses

The seed is coated with a wax. This wax, which comprises about 24% of the seed[5], can be used to make candles and soap[6][7][8][9][10][11]. It has excellent burning quality, and gives an inodorous clear bright flame[5]. The wax is also used for making soap, cloth dressing and fuel[5]. Pure tallow fat is known in commerce as Pi-yu[5]. The wax is separated from the seed by steeping it in hot water and skimming off the wax as it floats to the surface[12][13]. The wax is solid at temperatures below 40°c[12]. It is said to change grey hair to black[4].

The seed contains about 20% of a drying oil[5]. It is used to make candles and soap[8][12][13]. The oil is used in making varnishes and native paints because of its quick-drying properties[5]. It is also used in machine oils and as a crude lamp oil[5]. The pure oil expressed from the inner part of the seeds is known in commerce as Ting-yu[5]. The residual cake, after the oil is expressed, is used as manure, particularly for tobacco fields[5]. The leaves are rich in tannin[14], a black dye can be obtained by boiling them in alum water[10][12][13][5].The plant is used as a soil binder along the sides of roads and canals[5]. The wood is white, even and close grained, light, soft or moderately hard[13][5]. It is suitable for carving and is also used for making blocks in Chinese printing, furniture making and incense[5].

The wood is light and soft. It is used for fuel[5].

Unknown part

Dye
Hair care
Oil
Tannin
Wax
Wood
Compost
Incense
Fuel

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves and the roots are depurative, diuretic and laxative[7][15][14]. A decoction is used in the treatment of oedema, constipation, poisoning by two plants - Polygonum perfoliatum and Tripterygium wilfordii, skin diseases etc[15][4]. The leaves are particularly useful for treating boils[4].

The seed is antidote, emetic, hydragogue and purgative[4]. In China it is taken internally, which is a rather questionable practice considering its toxic nature[4]. The root bark is diuretic[4]. It is used in the treatment of snake bites and skin ulcers[4].

The juice of the tree (the sap is probably meant here[K]) is acrid and vesicant[16].

Unknown part

Acrid
Antidote
Depurative
Diuretic
Emetic
Hydrogogue
Laxative
Purgative
Skin
Vesicant

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Earth stabiliser

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - do not cold stratify the seed since this can lead to secondary dormancy. Sown in April in a warm greenhouse, it usually germinates within 4 weeks[17]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Overwinter in a greenhouse for at least their first 2 winters and plant out in late spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Sapium sebiferum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained soil[1]. Grows well on canal banks, steep mountain slopes, granite hills and sandy beaches, succeeding in alkaline, saline or acid soils[5]. It is said to thrive in alluvial forests, on low alluvial plains, and on rich leaf-molds, growing best in well-drained clayey-peat soils[5]. Requires the protection of a south or south-west wall when grown in areas at the limits of its hardiness[1]. Favourable climatic conditions are mean air temperatures of 12.5 to 30.1°C, and an annual precipitation from 130 to 370cm[5].

This tree is not reliably hardy in Britain, though it was successfully grown here in the 18th century[8]. It is able to withstand a few degrees of frost, but unripened twigs are particularly susceptible to frost injury[5]. It succeeds outdoors in the milder parts of Britain when grown in a woodland garden[18]. A fast-growing tree[19], it is much cultivated in warm temperate regions for its seeds which are a source of vegetable tallow, a drying oil and protein food[5]. The fruits yield two types of fats - the outer covering of the seeds contains a solid fat with a low iodine value and is known as Chinese Vegetable Tallow whilst the kernels produce a drying oil with high iodine value which is called Stillingia Oil[8][20][5]. Many named varietis have been developed in the Orient, especially in Taiwan, for improved oil production[5]. Plants require from 3 - 8 years to bear, but then continue to bear for an average of 70 - 100 years. They attain their full size in 10 - 12 years[5]. Yields of 14 tonnes of seed per hectare, containing 2.6 tonnes of oil and 2.8 tones of tallow have been achieved[5]. This yield could increase with age[5]. The plant has escaped from cultivation in N. America and has become a serious pest there, displacing native vegetation. It apparently produces root secretions that modify soil chemistry and discourage the establishment of native species[21].

Responds well to coppicing[12].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Sapium sebiferum. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Sapium sebiferum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Sapium sebiferum
Genus
Sapium
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][3][4]
Medicinal uses
[7][15][14][4][16]
Material uses & Functions
[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][4][14]
Botanic
[8][20][1]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Unknown part (Oil)
Material uses
  • Unknown part (Dye)
  • Unknown part (Hair care)
  • Unknown part (Oil)
  • Unknown part (Tannin)
  • Unknown part (Wax)
  • Unknown part (Wood)
  • Unknown part (Compost)
  • Unknown part (Incense)
  • Unknown part (Fuel)
Medicinal uses
  • Unknown part (Acrid)
  • Unknown part (Antidote)
  • Unknown part (Depurative)
  • Unknown part (Diuretic)
  • Unknown part (Emetic)
  • Unknown part (Hydrogogue)
  • Unknown part (Laxative)
  • Unknown part (Purgative)
  • Unknown part (Skin)
  • Unknown part (Vesicant)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Earth stabiliser
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
9
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Salinity
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
deciduous
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
vigorous
Mature Size
9 x 5 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Insects, Bees
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
monoecious











References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  4. ? 4.004.014.024.034.044.054.064.074.084.094.10 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
  5. ? 5.005.015.025.035.045.055.065.075.085.095.105.115.125.135.145.155.165.175.185.195.205.215.225.235.24 Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - (1983-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.5 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.2 Haywood. V. H. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217674-9 ()
  11. ? 11.011.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.212.312.412.5 Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh (1972-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.113.213.313.4 Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press (1945-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.114.214.3 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
  15. ? 15.015.115.2 ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X ()
  16. ? 16.016.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
  17. ? Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press ISBN 0942375009 (1987-00-00)
  18. ? Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent (1990-00-00)
  19. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
  20. ? 20.020.1 Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae. ()
  21. ? Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (1999-00-00)


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