Sapium sebiferum
The Chinese tallow tree is not native to Taiwan, but was introduced by early Han Chinese immigrants from southeastern China. Despite this, the Chinese tallow tree has become naturalized in Taiwan and can reproduce naturally in the wild.
The aril of the Chinese tallow tree is rich in wax, and in the past, it was used as lamp oil or candles for nighttime lighting, bringing light to people's lives in an era without electricity. After removing the outer wax layer, the seeds contain a rich oil that can be extracted for use as industrial oil, paint, ink, cosmetics, and wax paper. In recent years, with the development of renewable energy, the oil extracted from the Chinese tallow seeds has also been studied as a potential raw material for producing biodiesel. The wood of the Chinese tallow tree is tough, dense, resistant to cracking, and elastic, making it an excellent material for furniture, cabinets, and carvings. Every part of the tree has utilitarian value, making it a plant of significant economic value.
The Chinese tallow tree is also a highly ornamental landscape plant, and its most captivating viewing period in Taiwan is undoubtedly the cold winter season. As the weather cools, its leaves turn from green to yellow and eventually transform into vibrant red, resembling burning flames, adding a splash of color to the bleak winter landscape. It is often used as a street tree or landscape tree to beautify urban environments.
The fruits of the Chinese tallow tree are a favorite food for various bird species such as the Japanese white-eye and the light-vented bulbul, making it an excellent bird-attracting plant.
The Chinese tallow trees in this museum are planted along the trail below the circular hill in the Central Lowland Area of the Botanical Garden. During the leaf-fall season, they create a striking landscape of changing colors, and when the fruits ripen, they provide an important food source for the animals in the park. Additionally, they are also cultivated in the herb garden of the Human Cultures Hall as a display of plants used as medicinal ingredients.