Neoshirakia japonica

The tallow tree is the sole species in the milktree or Neoshirakia genus, in the euphorbia or Euphorbiaceae family. It is a shrub or small tree native to China, Korea and Japan. It can reach a height of up to 8 m tall.

• Leaves are simple, alternate, deciduous, papery, 7–16 cm long and 4–8 cm across, ovate, ovate-oblong, or elliptic; base is obtuse, truncate, or sometimes shallowly cordate, usually oblique, tip pointed. They are mid green in summer, but turn vivid red in fall.
• Seed capsules are triangular-globose, 1–1.5 cm in diameter.