Tag Archives: Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera)

Flora from the unseen

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I have yet to migrate all the images from my old photoblog, xenogere unseen, so I decided to put this little compilation together while I try to right that wrong.

A close-up of a common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) after it has gone to seed (20080114_01287_c)

Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) after it has gone to seed.

Purple passion flower (a.k.a. Maypop; Passiflora incarnata) from the family farm (20080809_10605)

Purple passion flower (a.k.a. Maypop; Passiflora incarnata) from the family farm.

A close-up of an unidentified species of bulrush (a.k.a. cattail or punk) found on the eastern shore of White Rock Lake near Garland Road (20080223_02163)

A close-up of an unidentified species of bulrush (a.k.a. cattail or punk) found on the eastern shore of White Rock Lake near Garland Road.

The unmistakable seeds of Chinese tallow (a.k.a. Florida aspen, chicken tree, vegetable tallow, white wax berry tree, or popcorn tree; Triadica sebifera, sometimes referred to as Sapium sebiferum) (20080223_02075)

The unmistakable seeds of Chinese tallow (a.k.a. Florida aspen, chicken tree, vegetable tallow, white wax berry tree, or popcorn tree; Triadica sebifera, sometimes referred to as Sapium sebiferum).

Southern cattail (Typha domingensis) giving in to a winter breeze on the shores of White Rock Lake (20080223_02128)

Southern cattail (Typha domingensis) giving in to a winter breeze on the shores of White Rock Lake.

Fruit of blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) seen at White Rock Lake’s Old Fish Hatchery Nature Area (IMG_20080105_00776)

Fruit of blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) seen at White Rock Lake’s Old Fish Hatchery Nature Area.

You cannot hide who you are

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Alone on a stretch of shore with nothing to keep it company save various reeds and grasses, a tree stands in winter nakedness against a backdrop of earth, wind, and water, three of the five classical elements.

A Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) stands naked on the winter shore of White Rock Lake, its white seeds still evident on each branch (20080223_02068)

I stare at it for some time, wondering what shape its life will take when once again it dons the verdant cloth of foliage.

But the closer I look, the more I realize even its nudity betrays its true self, its very nature.

The limbs of a Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) in winter with the white seed clusters still intact (20080223_02074)

White like chalk and waxy like candles, its essence dangles from each branch, its name writ upon each seed waiting to give rise to another of its kind, to a tree like this one.

Known by many names, such as Florida aspen, chicken tree, and white wax berry tree, none identifies it more easily than this simple moniker: popcorn tree.

A close-up of the white seed clusters of a Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) (20080223_02073)

No, my ligneous friend, you cannot hide who you are even in winter.  No matter what flesh you wear, the truth of your soul remains evident.

[Chinese tallow (a.k.a. Florida aspen, chicken tree, vegetable tallow, white wax berry tree, or popcorn tree; Triadica sebifera, sometimes referred to as Sapium sebiferum)]