Alias: Qinglang wood, Baijing tree, BaiLa
Scientific name: Fraxinus chinensis Roxb.
Family: Oleaceae, Genus: Fraxinus
Distribution: North from the middle and southern part of Northeast China, through the Yellow River basin and Yangtze River basin, south to Guangdong and Guangxi, southeast to Fujian, west to Gansu. It prefers moist conditions and is mostly distributed near mountain caves and streams, with fast growth. Form: Deciduous tree, crown ovate, bark yellow-brown. Young branches are smooth and hairless. Odd-pinnate compound leaves, opposite, with 5-9 leaflets, usually 7, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 3-10 cm long, apex gradually pointed, base narrow and asymmetrical, margin serrated and wavy, surface hairless, back along the veins with short soft hairs. Panicle inflorescence lateral or terminal on the current year's branches, large and loose; elliptical inflorescences terminal and lateral, drooping, flowering in summer. Calyx bell-shaped; no petals. Winged fruit narrowly oblong, 3-4 cm long. Flowering period March-May; fruit ripens in October. Winged fruit flat, narrowly oblong. The white wax tree is the most suitable host for the white wax insect. Historically, many white wax tree gardens were built in Xichang and other places to raise white wax insects for harvesting white wax, and the past white wax insect transactions in Xichang were famous nationwide. In addition, the wood of the white wax tree is tough and used to make furniture, farming tools, vehicles, plywood, etc.; the branches can be woven into baskets; the bark, called spring skin, is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a heat-clearing drug.
White wax is a valuable natural medicinal material, with stable market demand, but the annual output in China has been declining year by year due to the destruction of white wax trees and privet trees. Now, white wax and white wax insects are in tight supply and prices are rising. People should make full use of the traditional industry advantage of white wax production and recreate the brilliance of the Xichang white wax industry. Ornamental characteristics and landscaping uses: This species has a regular shape, straight trunk, lush and fresh green branches and leaves, orange-yellow autumn leaves, making it an excellent street tree and shade tree; it can be used for lakeside greening and industrial area greening.