Sapium sebiferum
It may be a little unfair to list a tree like this since it is strongly implanted in the Southeast, lesser to the west and probably not found north of North Carolina. I find it an interesting tree and because it grows so prolifically could be a good lumber tree, ornamental and be used for other things if it could be controled. This tree keeps coming up in ditchs, front yards, pastures and most everywhere it's not wanted. It seems to grow in well drained as well as swampy ground.
It is known also as the "Popcorn" tree because its fruit matures dries and the covering falls off leaving a snow white seed hanging on the tree.
A story I heard was that a man in Hawaii claimed that if this tree were comercially grown on old cane plantations, enough oil from the seeds could be produced to fuel all the flights of planes back to the 48 on the mainland. All fuel has to be shipped to Hawaii now to get these planes back.
I was curious and stuck a pin in one of the seeds and lit it with a match. It burned brightly, just like a candle, for over 2 minutes. Pretty impressive.
