The Chinese tallow is an invasive species in the southern parts of the United States.  It spreads prolifically from little seeds which it drops in late summer, and its seedlings can sprout up for miles around. 

It is a fast-growing tree, which used to be commonly used in landscaping new neighborhoods, much like the old ubiquitous Arizona ash.

It drops seeds and branches in the summer time and little green squigglies in the spring.  It's toxic and has few natural predators.

For a few weeks every autumn and winter, the leaves change color and fall, blanketing the ground with brilliant fall foliage.  In a place where it's hard to find much fall color, it is a lovely sight indeed.  I suppose this is, in part, why it was so popular to begin with.

Our house came with a Chinese tallow tree in the back yard.  It isn't long for this world, since we intend to chop it down soon.  I won't miss it, but I wanted to record the beautiful blanket of yellow that it dropped upon the back yard.  By the time the leaf-dropping was complete, the grass was nearly impossible to see.