Taxon: Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.) Airy Shaw

Summary

Genus:

Vernicia

Family:

Euphorbiaceae

Subfamily:

Crotonoideae

Tribe:

Aleuritideae

Subtribe:

Aleuritinae

Nomen number:

320180

Place of publication:

Kew Bull. 20:394. 1966

Verified:

01/06/2012 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

44 (0 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Aleurites fordii Hemsl.

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Airy Shaw, H. K. 1972. The Euphorbiaceae of Siam. Kew Bull. 26:191-363. Note: mentions
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen
Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Li, Z. et al. 2017. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of tung tree (Vernicia fordii): organization and phylogenetic relationships with other angiosperms. Sci. Rep. 7:1869. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02076-6. www.nature.com/srep/
Nogueira, J. B. & R. D. Machado. 1957. Glosario de plantas oleaginosas e ceriferas. II. Euforbiaceas. Note: = Aleurites fordii
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
Radcliffe-Smith, A. 1973. Typification of Vernicia fordii (Euphorbiaceae). Kew Bull. 28:296.
Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Schultes, R. E. 1987. Members of Euphorbiaceae in primitive and advanced societies. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 94:79-95.
Stuppy, W. et al. 1999. Revision of the genera Aleurites, Reutealis and Vernicia (Euphorbiaceae). Blumea 44:91-92.
Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
Vossen, H. A. M. van der & B. E. Umali, eds. 2001. Vegetable oils and fats. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 14:142-146.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Zhang, L. et al. 2019. Tung tree (Vernicia fordii) genome provides a resource for understanding genome evolution and improved oil production. Genom. Proteom. Bioinform. 17:558-575.

Common names

Language	Name	Alternate name	note	seq	Citation
English	Chinese wood-oil-tree			1	Stuppy, W. et al. 1999. Revision of the genera Aleurites, Reutealis and Vernicia (Euphorbiaceae). Blumea 44:91-92.
English	tung-oil-tree			1	Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Chinese	you tong	油桐		2	Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Dutch	chineesche olieboom			2	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
French	arbre à l'huile de tung			2	Vossen, H. A. M. van der & B. E. Umali, eds. 2001. Vegetable oils and fats. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 14:142-146.
French	noix d'abrasin			2	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
German	gewöhnlicher Tungölbaum			2	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen
German	Holzölbaum			2	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
German	Tungölbaum			2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Malay	tung-yu			2	Vossen, H. A. M. van der & B. E. Umali, eds. 2001. Vegetable oils and fats. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 14:142-146.
Portuguese (Brazil)	árvore-de-óleo-da-china		as Aleurites fordii	2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)	tungue		as Aleurites fordii	2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Spanish	aleurita			2	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Swedish	tungträd			2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transcribed Chinese	tung yu			2	Stuppy, W. et al. 1999. Revision of the genera Aleurites, Reutealis and Vernicia (Euphorbiaceae). Blumea 44:91-92.

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Anhui Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Fujian Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Guangdong Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Guizhou Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Hainan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Henan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Hubei Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Hunan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Jiangsu Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Jiangxi Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Shaanxi Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Sichuan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Yunnan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Zhejiang Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Myanmar			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Vietnam		n.	Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
2	Cultivated	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Kenya			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Tanzania			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Malawi			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Africa	Southern Africa	Eswatini			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Madagascar			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Georgia			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Asia-Temperate	China	China			Vossen, H. A. M. van der & B. E. Umali, eds. 2001. Vegetable oils and fats. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 14:142-146.
2	Cultivated	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Japan			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Korea			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Nepal			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Sri Lanka			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Cambodia			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Laos			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Myanmar			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Vietnam			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Malaysia			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Australasia	Australia	Australia			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Australasia	New Zealand	New Zealand			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Europe	Eastern Europe	Ukraine			Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2	Cultivated	Northern America		United States		s.e.	Vossen, H. A. M. van der & B. E. Umali, eds. 2001. Vegetable oils and fats. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 14:142-146.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil			Vossen, H. A. M. van der & B. E. Umali, eds. 2001. Vegetable oils and fats. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 14:142-146.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina			Vossen, H. A. M. van der & B. E. Umali, eds. 2001. Vegetable oils and fats. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 14:142-146.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Southern South America	Paraguay			Vossen, H. A. M. van der & B. E. Umali, eds. 2001. Vegetable oils and fats. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 14:142-146.
4	Naturalized	Australasia	Australia	Australia	Queensland		Vossen, H. A. M. van der & B. E. Umali, eds. 2001. Vegetable oils and fats. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 14:142-146.
4	Naturalized	Northern America		United States		s.e.	Stuppy, W. et al. 1999. Revision of the genera Aleurites, Reutealis and Vernicia (Euphorbiaceae). Blumea 44:91-92.

Native
Asia-Temperate

CHINA: China [Anhui Sheng, Fujian Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Guizhou Sheng, Hainan Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng]

Asia-Tropical

INDO-CHINA: Myanmar, Vietnam (n.)

Cultivated
Africa

EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Kenya, Tanzania
SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Malawi
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Eswatini, South Africa
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Madagascar

Asia-Temperate

CAUCASUS: Georgia
CHINA: China
EASTERN ASIA: Korea, Japan

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal
INDO-CHINA: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam
MALESIA: Malaysia

Australasia

AUSTRALIA: Australia
NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand

Europe

EASTERN EUROPE: Ukraine

Northern America

REGION: United States (s.e.)

Southern America

BRAZIL: Brazil
SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina, Paraguay

Naturalized
Australasia

AUSTRALIA: Australia [Queensland]

Northern America

REGION: United States (s.e.)

Reference(s)

Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Stuppy, W. et al. 1999. Revision of the genera Aleurites, Reutealis and Vernicia (Euphorbiaceae). Blumea 44:91-92.
Vossen, H. A. M. van der & B. E. Umali, eds. 2001. Vegetable oils and fats. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 14:142-146.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Materials	lipids	source of tung oil for paint industry	Li, Z. et al. 2017. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of tung tree (Vernicia fordii): organization and phylogenetic relationships with other angiosperms. Sci. Rep. 7:1869. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02076-6. www.nature.com/srep/
Materials	lipids	source of tung oil with several applications	Schultes, R. E. 1987. Members of Euphorbiaceae in primitive and advanced societies. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 94:79-95.
Vertebrate poisons	mammals	as Aleurites fordii	Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada.
Vertebrate poisons	mammals	as Aleurites fordii	Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisons	mammals	as Aleurites fordii	Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia Note: poisonous

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=320180. Accessed 15 April 2026.