Toxicodendron succedaneum

The Japanese wax tree is in the cashew or Anacardiaceae family and is found in Asia, notably China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. It is a large shrub of tree and grows up to 8 m tall. Some botanical gardens still classify is as Rhus succedanea amongst other names, although it now has been reclassified.

Extracts from the sap of the tree are used to produce lacquer in Asia, for lacquer paintings. In Japan, its crushed fruit has been used to produce candle fuel called “Japan wax” instead of using beeswax. Japan wax also is a by-product of lacquer manufacture.

• Leaves are alternate, pinnate and up to 30 cm long, radiating in clusters from the ends of branches. Leaves have 9–13 opposite leaflets, each leaf being lanceolate to oblong, 5–9 cm long, 15–30 mm wide, long-pointed, margins entire; petioles are 1–4 cm long. The compound leaves somewhat resemble those of white ash (Fraxinus americana).
• The tree is dioecious; female flowers are small, pale white, radiating in upright panicles from the ends of branches. Fruit is a round drupe up to 7 mm in diameter, initially green but turning pale brown in September.