How did Chinese tallow come to
America? <!-- invasive species, vegetation -->
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USGS Frequently Asked Questions
Question:
How did Chinese tallow come to
America?
Answer:
Chinese tallow was reportedly introduced
to the United States by Benjamin
Franklin in 1772. It was also introduced to
South Carolina in the late 1700's. Because
of the large amount of vegetable tallow
found in the seed, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture introduced it to the Gulf of
Mexico Coast region in the 1900's to help
establish local soap industries.
