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Aleurites (Greek, farinose or floury). Euphorbiaceae. Tropical trees grown for the oils they yield or sometimes for shade and ornament.
Leaves alternate, palmately veined, 3-5-lobed, the long petioles with 2 glands at the apex: fls. usually monoecious, in lax terminal cymes; sepals 2-3, valvate; petals 5; stamens 8-20, the inner row monadelphous; ovule in each cell of the 2-5-celled ovary: fr. large, drupaceous, with thick-shelled seeds.—Four species, with milky juice, natives of E. Asia and Pacific Isls. Jatropha and Hevea, are related genera.
All of the species are cultivated in tropical countries for the drying oil derived from the seeds. These oils are similar to linseed oil, but dry quicker, harder and more waterproof but less lightproof and elastic. The seeds of A. moluccana yield 60 percent of oil (kekuna, krlun or bankul oil), which is used for burning or in varnishes. The seed or oil is also used to some extent as food and the wood is worked. The tree is grown for shade. It is said to be easily grown in the tropics up to 2000 feet altitude. It is easily propagated from seeds, which sprout in four to five weeks. The oil (wood-oil, tung-oil) of the seeds of the wood-oil trees (A. cordata, A. Fordii) is much used, especially in China and Japan, for treating woodwork, cloth, and the like, and for burning. Its importation to this country is on the increase, where it is used in varnishes and other products, paints, soaps, linoleum, and so on. A. Fordii, which is the hardier species, has been extensively introduced into the southern states by our Department of Agriculture and is reported to be doing very well.
A. cordata is a fine smooth-barked tree, good for shade and will stand high temperature, but not much below freezing. A. Fordii is a very ornamental tree.
The wood-oil trees are usually grown on dry, thin soil not suited to general farming. They are grown from seeds, and begin to produce nuts in three to six years. The seedlings are raised in a bed and transplanted when about a foot high or are planted where they are to stand. They may also be propagated from hardwood cuttings, which root readily. An average tree is said to yield twenty to fifty pounds of nuts with about 24 percent of oil. The oil is pressed from the seed after roasting. The seed is poisonous. See Circ. 108, U. S. Bu. PI. Ind.
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