''Toxicodendron succedaneum'', the wax tree, Japanese Hazenoki tree (Sumac or wax tree), sơn in Vietnam or charão in Portuguese, is a flowering plant species in the genus ''

Toxicodendron ''Toxicodendron'' is a genus of flowering plants in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. It contains trees, shrubs and woody vines, including poison ivy, poison oak, and the lacquer tree. All members of the genus produce the skin-irritating oi ...

'' found in Asia, although it has been planted elsewhere, most notably Australia and New Zealand. It is a large shrub or tree, up to 8 m tall, somewhat similar to a sumac tree. Because of its beautiful autumn foliage, it has been planted outside Asia as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...

, often by gardeners who were apparently unaware of the dangers of allergic reactions. It is now officially classified as a noxious weed in Australia and New Zealand. It is one of the city tree symbols of

Kurume, Fukuoka is a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of June 1, 2019, the city has an estimated population of 303,579 and a population density of 1,320 persons per km². The total area is 229.96 km². On February 5, 2005, the town of Kitano (from ...

, Japan. The larvae of the moths '' Eteoryctis deversa'', ''

Caloptilia aurifasciata ''Caloptilia aurifasciata'' is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is known from China (Hainan, Guanxi, Fujian, Zhejiang), Hong Kong, Japan (Honshū, Kyūshū, Shikoku), Malaysia (West Malaysia) and Thailand. The wingspan is 9.8–11 m ...

'', '' Caloptilia protiella'', '' Caloptilia rhois'' and '' Callidrepana patrana'' feed on ''T. succedaneum''.

Chemistry

The plant produces hinokiflavone, a cytotoxic

biflavonoid Biflavonoids are a type of flavonoids with the general formula scheme (C6-C3-C6)2. Examples * Amentoflavone (bis-apigenin coupled at 8 and 3' positions) * Lophirone L and lophirone M found in ''Lophira alata'' * Sulcatone A, a naturally occurring ...

. Its stems are also a commercial source of

fisetin Fisetin (7,3′,4′- flavon-3-ol) is a plant flavonol from the flavonoid group of polyphenols. It can be found in many plants, where it serves as a yellow/ ochre colouring agent. It is also found in many fruits and vegetables, such as strawberrie ...

, extracted in China.

Uses

It is used to produce lacquer. In Vietnam, the lacquer is used to produce

lacquer painting Lacquer painting is a form of painting with lacquer which was practised in East Asia for decoration on lacquerware, and found its way to Europe and the Western World both via Persia and the Middle East and by direct contact with Continental Asia. Th ...

s, known as sơn mài, from resin of the tree. In East Asia, in particular in Japan, traditional candle fuel (also called

Japan wax Japan wax (木蝋 ''Mokurō''), also known as sumac wax, sumach wax, vegetable wax, China green tallow, and Japan tallow, is a pale-yellow, waxy, water-insoluble solid with a gummy feel, obtained from the berries of certain sumacs native to Japan an ...

) was produced, among other sumac plants, from ''Toxicodendron succedaneum'' crushed fruits rather than beeswax or animal fats. Japan wax is a byproduct of lacquer manufacture. It is not a true

wax Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to giv ...

but a fat that contains 10–15%

palmitin Tripalmitin is a triglyceride derived from the fatty acid palmitic acid Palmitic acid (hexadecanoic acid in IUPAC nomenclature) is a fatty acid with a 16-carbon chain. It is the most common saturated fatty acid found in animals, plants and micr ...

, stearin, and

olein Triolein is a symmetrical triglyceride derived from glycerol and three units of the unsaturated fatty acid oleic acid. Most triglycerides are unsymmetrical, being derived from mixtures of fatty acids. Triolein represents 4–30% of olive oil. Tri ...

with about 1% japanic acid (1,21-heneicosanedioic acid). Japan wax is sold in flat squares or disks and has a rancid odor. It is extracted by expression and heat, or by the action of

solvent A solvent (s) (from the Latin '' solvō'', "loosen, untie, solve") is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. A solvent is usually a liquid but can also be a solid, a gas, or a supercritical fluid. Water is a solvent for ...

s. The fatty-acid methyl ester of the kernel oil meets all of the major

biodiesel Biodiesel is a form of diesel fuel derived from plants or animals and consisting of long-chain fatty acid esters. It is typically made by chemically reacting lipids such as animal fat ( tallow), soybean oil, or some other vegetable oil ...

requirements in the USA (ASTM D 6751-02, ASTM PS 121-99), Germany (DIN V 51606) and European Union (EN 14214). It is used as a medicinal plant in India. The fruits are edible though their consumption is not recommended because of the general toxicity of the plant.

Images gallery

File:Rhus succedanea - Jardim Botânico de São Paulo - IMG 0258.jpg, Wood sample at Jardim Botânico, São Paulo, Brazil File:Rhus succedanea-01.jpg, Leaves and flowers File:Rhus succedanea-03.jpg, Bark File:Rhus succedanea.jpg, A very common wild tree in Hong Kong File:Toxicodendron succedaneum.jpg, Detail of flowers

References

External links

{{Authority control succedaneum Plants described in 1891