tallow tree

noun

a small tree, Sapium sebiferum, of the spurge family, cultivated in China and the tropics, having popcorn-shaped seeds with a waxy coating that is used for soap, candles, and oil.

First recorded in 1695–1705

The Chinese make their candles from the tallow obtained from the seeds and capsules of the tallow-tree.

Such is the case with the natural order Euphorbiaceæ, or spurge family, to which the tallow-tree of China belongs.

The seeds of the "tallow tree" yield an oil (stillingia oil) having drying properties.

Among the exotics we observed the Australian gum-tree and the Chinese tallow-tree, large and thrifty in both instances.

Of equal value and more curious is the tallow-tree, which lights the whole of the empire.

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