Aleurites cordata; tung oil tree

Japanese: アブラギリ(油桐) - アブラギリ（英語表記）Aleurites cordata; tung oil tree

A deciduous tree of the Euphorbiaceae family. Native to China, it was introduced to Japan and cultivated there many years ago, and grows wild in warm regions. It can reach a height of 10m, with heart-shaped leaves on long stalks that grow alternately. In early summer, panicles appear at the ends of the branches, and many white, five-petaled, unisexual flowers bloom. In autumn, the spherical fruits ripen, containing three seeds. The seeds contain about 30% drying oil, and are pressed to make paulownia oil. The oil is composed of 77-82% eleostearic acid, as well as oleic acid, stearic acid, etc. It dries easily, and has been used since ancient times to paint oil paper, umbrellas, lanterns, and in paint, varnish, and printing ink, but is not edible. In the past, it was also used as kerosene, and ink was made from the oily smoke.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

トウダイグサ科の落葉高木。中国原産で，古くから日本に渡来して栽植され，暖地では自生状態になっている。高さ 10mにも達し，葉は心臓形で長い柄があり互生する。初夏，枝先に円錐花序を出し白色5弁の単性花を多数咲かせる。秋に，球形の果実が熟し，中に3個の種子が入っている。種子に 30%内外の乾性油を含み，圧搾して桐油 (とうゆ) をとる。成分はエレオステアリン酸が 77～82%，ほかにオレイン酸，ステアリン酸などを含む。乾燥性がよく，古来，油紙，雨傘，ちょうちんなどに塗ったり，ペンキ，ニス，印刷用インキなどに利用されるが，食用にはならない。なお往時，灯油にも用いられ，その油煙から墨 (すみ) がつくられた。

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