Popcorn Tree Royalty-Free Stock Photo

popcorn tree, Sapium sebiferum, commonly called Chinese tallow tree, is a small, fast-growing, deciduous tree. Poplar-like, acuminate, medium green leaves turn variable shades of yellow, orange, red and or purple in fall. Monoecious yellow-green flowers in catkin-like spikes appear in spring. Flowers give way to three-lobed capsules, each lobe containing one seed. The outer layers of each capsule falls off in fall at maturity revealing three showy seeds covered with a waxy white coating. Seeds contrast well with fall foliage color and usually persist on the tree after leaf drop. In China, the seeds are harvested in fall for extracting vegetable tallow that is used in making candles and soaps, hence the common name. Mature fruit purportedly resembles popcorn, hence the sometimes used common name of popcorn tree.