Vernicia

Taxobox
name = "Vernicia"

---

image_caption = "Vernicia fordii"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Malpighiales
familia = Euphorbiaceae
subfamilia = Crotonoideae
tribus = Aleuritideae
subtribus = Aleuritinae
genus = "Vernicia"
genus_authority = Lour.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text

The genus "Vernicia", commonly referred to as Tung or Tung-oil Tree, is a genus in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae, comprising three species, native to eastern and southeastern Asia.Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?320179 "Vernicia"] ] Flora of Thailand: [http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/Thaieuph/ThVspecies/ThVernicia.htm "Vernicia"] ]

They are shrubs or trees growing to 20 m tall. The leaves are alternate, broad, entire to palmately lobed; they may be either deciduous or evergreen. The flowers may be either monoecious or dioecious.

;Species
* "Vernicia cordata" (Thunb.) Airy Shaw. Southern Japan.
* "Vernicia fordii" (Hemsl.) Airy Shaw. Southern China, Burma, northern Vietnam.
* "Vernicia montana" Lour. Southern China, Indo-China.

The species have often been included within the related genus "Aleurites". Other synonyms include "Ambinux" Comm. ex Juss., "Dryandra" Thunb., and "Elaeococca" Comm. ex Juss..

Cultivation and uses

All three species are cultivated for the oil in their nuts, used in the manufacture of linoleum, paint, varnish, etc.

References