Japanese name: ウルシ（漆） Scientific name:Toxicodendron vernicifluum
[Overview]
A deciduous tree 7–10 m tall.
Young branches are densely covered with soft hairs.
The leaves are alternate, odd-pinnately compound, 25–40 cm long, and have 9–15 leaflets.
The leaflets are elliptic, 6–15 cm long and 3–7 cm wide, with coarse hairs on the veins of the underside and entire margins.
The leaves turn red in autumn.
The leaf stalks have short soft hairs.
The plant is dioecious; both male and female flowers are borne in large numbers in panicles 10–25 cm long arising from the leaf axils, and are small, yellowish-green and 5-petaled.
The fruit is an oblate sphere 8 mm in diameter that ripens to a glossy yellowish brown.
[History]
It has been widely cultivated to obtain lacquer and has become naturalized in many places.
[Uses]
The sap is used as a raw material for lacquer and also medicinally.
The wood is used for crafted items.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
As long as the site is sunny and well drained, it is not particular about soil and is easy to grow.
Rainfall is sufficient for watering.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
