There are two possible stories behind the name "Wujiu": (1) birds called "Wujiu" like to eat their seeds, and (2) when the trees grow older, they become rotten from the center of their roots first, and the roots take the shape of a mortar (Jiu). During autumn/winter the tree's leaves turn from green to yellow, and then bright red before withering. When the wind blows and the red leaves are shaken loose the scene is stunning. The Chinese Tallow is a species with high economic value. The wood is flexible, and especially suitable for making such items as spinning tops. The white part of the seed contains a liquid wax that can be used to make candles, whereas the black part can be processed to produce a transparent oil for making soap. The leaves can be refined to produce black dyes. The trees are also useful for producing biodiesel; the quantity of vegetable oil produced from the tree is No. 3 in the world.
