Vernicia is a genus in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae, first described as a genus in 1790.[1] [2] It is native to China, Japan, India, and Indochina.[3] [4] The species have often been included within the related genus Aleurites.[5] [6]
They are shrubs or trees growing to 20 m tall. The leaves are alternate, broad, and entire to palmately lobed; they may be either deciduous or evergreen. The flowers may be either monoecious or dioecious.[4]
| Image | Fruit | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vernicia cordata (Thunb.) Airy Shaw. | southern Japan, naturalized in Angola and Nepal | ||
| Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.) Airy Shaw. | southern China, Myanmar, Vietnam, naturalized in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Taiwan, eastern Himalayas, New South Wales, California, Lesser Antilles, Paraguay, Argentina (tung oil tree) | ||
| Vernicia montana Lour. | southern China, Indochina; naturalized in Angola, Japan, Java, eastern Himalayas (mu oil tree) | ||