US Founding Father Cleared of Importing Invasive Species

American founding father Benjamin Franklin was – among many things – a highly regarded scientist.

So it seems appropriate that it was science which proved him blameless in importing an invasive species of tree which has overrun thousands of acres of U.S. coastal prairie from Florida to East Texas.

While in London in the late 1700’s, it seems Ben was taken with the potential offered by the Chinese tallow tree.

Each of the tallow tree’s seeds is covered by a waxy, white tallow which can be processed to make much-needed items such as soap, candles and edible oil.

The fact that these trees tend to be quite bountiful, with each producing up to a half million seeds per year, added to its appeal.

So, Mr. Franklin packed up a batch of tree seeds and sent it back to his friends in the States for them to plant, harvest and process.