Thursday, October 27, 2016

Tung Oil Trees

tung oil, trees, Aiken
You get your tung oil straight out of the can, Right?

Did you know how it got there?

Down one block here in Aiken, South Carolina, is a line of tung oil trees.








Back in the summer I posted a photo on Instagram of the fruit growing on the tree.








The first blush of color on the green fruit.















The photo from August shows a lot of color.

The trees stand about twenty feet high and have lovely large leaves.

The trees are mostly round in shape.






Last week I noticed the fruit had ripened and was falling to the ground.

The color is very pretty, but they quickly continue ripening ...







Until they are brown and ready for processing.

At this point the city usually comes along to gather them up before ruining the cars parked underneath. 






The fruit will split easily into three to seven pieces.












Peel off the outer husk to get ...
















These hard-covered wedges.



















 
Peel the hard cover and the paper-like cover off to reveal ...












A very hard kernel.

Yes, it is covered by yet another hard shell.












I smashed it between two bricks to reveal (FINALLY!) the inner white core.

In the processing plant this would be pressed for the oil.

So now you know where your tung oil originates.

I'll never bemoan the price of tung oil again.

A whole lot of work.

Interesting facts about the tung oil tree can be found HERE.

Like "tung" is Chinese for "heart" - the leaves are heart-shaped.


See y'all!









ETSY SHOP IS CLOSED




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Amaze Me Monday #187


8 comments:

  1. I am just learning about this fruit♥

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  2. I have only lived in the CSRA for a few years. You have certainly taught me something new. I have used Tung Oil for years but had no idea how/where it was processed. Thanks for the post Donna! Jackie

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  3. Very interesting! How cool to have those trees near you.

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  4. Very cool to learn this Donna. I agree with Linda how neat to have these trees near you.
    Happy Thursday.
    Kris

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  5. Glad to know this Donna ... I have never seen a Tung Oil tree. The fruit is very pretty and the kernel so well protected. Too bad the fruit ripens so quickly or you could use it to decorate with. Thanks for sharing this.

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  6. It's always nice to learn new stuff! Thank you!

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  7. That was a very intersting post and the fruit has pretty colours when ripe.

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  8. Hmm, looks like a pumpkin on the outside, and the hard kernel like a clove of garlic. Interesting post!

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