Abstract
We studied the bark structure of Dendropanax trifidus (Thunb.) Makino ex H. Hara, Chengiopanax
sciadophylloides (Franch. et Sav.) C.B. Shang et J.Y. Huang, and Gamblea innovans (Siebold et Zucc.) C.B. Shang,
Lowry et Frodin of Araliaceae to examine why D. trifidus is better than the other two species for collecting “golden
lacquer.” Dendropanax trifidus had a thicker bark that alternately produced bands of sieve-tubes, companion
cells, parenchyma, and resin ducts and those of sclereids near to the periderm, and resin ducts decreased in number,
but existed near to the periderm. In C. sciadophylloides and G. innovans, resin ducts existed only in the first
two bands of sieve-tube elements and others, and resin ducts in outer bands were crashed with the formation of
sclereids in the gaps that formed with the enlarging stem diameter. Such difference in the bark structure allowed
the higher production of lacquer from D. trifidus than from C. sciadophylloides and G. innovans.
