Eric Comley, graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University has published the first discovery of the Chinese tallowtree (Sapium sebiferum). Chinese tallowtree was "introduced by Benjamin Franklin and promoted by the U.S. Forest Service for soap potential and later as an ornamental due to the tree’s beautiful fall color." It was first introduced into South Carolina in the 1700s. The plant discovered by Mr. Comley was eradicated so that the spread of the species is limited.
Eric's discovery was published in the June 2008 edition of the journal Castanea.
More information at: http://www.biology.eku.edu/news/news.php