Scientific Name
Triadica sebifera or Sapium sebiferum
Synonyms
Common Names
Chinese tallowood
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Distinguishing Characteristics
This is a deciduous tree. Flowers are either male or female. Bark is grey and longitudinally fissured.
Leaves are alternate, broadly pear-shaped, dark green above and much paler below with an tapering apex.
Flowers are tiny and in small clusters arranged in terminal spikes; male flowers are yellow-green while female flowers (if present) will be found at base of the inflorescence.
Fruit is a capsule which is green when young becoming black when ripe. When mature valves fall leaving naked seeds attached to the tree. Seeds are white with maximum 3 in each capsule.
Other plants easily confused with this plant
Similar to the Australian native Omalanthus populifolius. The native has a smooth trunk whereas the weed species has a fissued trunk.
Sources & References
"Plantnet FloraOnline"
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/
Prepared by Justin KY Chu, July 2005
Updated by Bev Debrincat, September 2010