Tetrapanax

Tetrapanax papyrifer, the rice-paper plant[1] (通草—tong cao), is an evergreen shrub in the family Araliaceae, the sole species in the genus Tetrapanax.[2] The specific epithet is frequently misspelled as "papyriferum", "papyriferus", or "papyrifera". It is endemic to Taiwan, but widely cultivated in East Asia and sometimes in other tropical regions as well.[3] The species was once included in the genus Fatsia as Fatsia papyrifera.[4]

Tetrapanax
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae
Subfamily: Aralioideae
Genus: Tetrapanax
(K.Koch) K.Koch
Species:
T. papyrifer
Binomial name
Tetrapanax papyrifer

A second species, Tetrapanax tibetanus, is now regarded as a synonym of Merrilliopanax alpinus.[5]

Description

It grows to 3–7 m tall, with usually unbranched stems 2 cm diameter bearing a rosette of large leaves at the top (superficially similar to a palm crown). The leaves are carried on 40–60 cm petioles, the leaf blade orbicular, 30–50 cm across, deeply palmately lobed with 5-11 primary lobes, the central lobes larger and Y-forked near the end. It spreads extensively by sprouts from the root system underground. The inflorescence is a large panicle of hemispherical to globular umbels near the end of the stem. The flowers have 4 or 5 small white petals. The fruit is a small drupe.

Uses

Tetrapanax papyrifer is used in traditional Chinese medicine and as an ornamental. The pith from the stem is used to make a substance commonly known as rice paper,[4] but more properly termed pith paper.

  • Tetrapanax papyrifer at the botanical garden of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, Genoa
  • Leaf of Tetrapanax papyrifer
  • Inflorescence of Tetrapanax papyrifer
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References
  1. "Tetrapanax papyrifer". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  2. Qibai Xiang & Porter P. Lowry. "Tetrapanax". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  3. George W. Staples and Derral R. Herbst. 2005. "A Tropical Garden Flora". Bishop Museum Press: Honolulu, HI, USA.
  4. Qibai Xiang & Porter P. Lowry. "Tetrapanax papyrifer". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  5. Qibai Xiang & Porter P. Lowry. "Merrilliopanax alpinus". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
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