Lacquer Tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum or Rhus verniciflua), also call Varnish Tree, Japanese lacquer Tree, Japanese Varnish Tree and Japanese Sumac, is a species of genus Rhus and Toxicodendron that grows in East Asia, in regions of China and Japan. The trees are cultivated and tapped for its toxic sap, which is used as a highly durable lacquer to make Chinese and Japanese lacquerware.

The trees grow up to 20 m tall with large leaves, each containing from 7 to 19 leaflets (most often 11-13). The sap contains the allergenic compound urushiol, which gets its name from this species which in Japanese is known as Urushi. Other names for this species include (Note: the term "varnish tree" is also occasionally applied to the Candlenut, Aleurites moluccana, a southeast Asian tree unrelated to Toxicodendron).

Uses

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A caustic, toxic sap is tapped from the trunk of the Lacquer Tree to produce lacquer for lacquerware. This is done by slashing the trunk of a 10 year old tree horizontally 5-10 times, and then collecting the greyish yellow sap exuding from the wounds. The sap is then filtered, heat-treated, or coloured before applying onto a base material that is to lacquered. Curing the applied sap requires "drying" it in a humid chamber or closet for 12 to 24 hours where the urushiol polymerizes to form a clear, hard, and waterproof surface.

The leaves, seeds, and the resin of the Lacquer Tree are sometimes used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of internal parasites and for stopping bleeding.

References

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• Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

See also

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• Lacquer
• Urushiol

Poisonous plants