Rhus vemiciflua

Rhus vemiciflua Stokes Gan Qi (Lacquer tree) (exudation of the bark) Resinous oil urushiol.49 This herb may be toxic. As hemolytic, emmenagogue, vermifuge. 

Erythema multiforme in a photodistribution has been attributed to Rhus vemiciflua, the Japanese lacquer tree (6). The rash was reproduced by challenge with the drug and sunlight. On contact with R. vemiciflua the patient had a flare of the eruption, which was limited to the areas... 

PoweU SM, Barrett DK. An outbreak of contact dermatitis from Rhus vemiciflua (Toxicodendron vernicifluum). Contact Dermatitis 1986 14(5) 288-9. 

Toxicodendron vernicifluum, also called Rhus vemiciflua is the source of Japanese lacquer. The correct name of the varnish tree (Japanese lacquer tree) is Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F. Barkley, the names Rhus vemiciflua Stokes, and Rhus vernicifera D.C. are synonyms [1,2]. 

Oriental lacquer is an emulsion, the sap is obtained by tapping lacquer trees in the same way that natural rubber is harvested from rubber trees. A Rhus vemiciflua tree can grow to a height of 30 feet, its leaves, blossoms and seeds are shown in Figure 3. After ten years of growth, the stem of the lacquer tree is mature enough, it can be cut and a sap oozes out of the tree which is similar to the sap from the rubber tree. 

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