Tetrapanax papyrifer, the rice paper plant (通草—tong cao), is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Araliaceae, the sole species in the genus Tetrapanax.[1][2] The specific epithet is frequently misspelled as "papyriferum", "papyriferus", or "papyrifera". It is native to eastern and central China and Taiwan,[1] but widely cultivated in East Asia and in other tropical[3] to mild temperate regions as well.[4][5]

Tetrapanax
Scientific classification Edit this 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

The species was first described in the genus Aralia as Aralia papyrifera, and has also been treated in Fatsia as Fatsia papyrifera.[1][6]

A second species, Tetrapanax tibetanus, is now regarded as a synonym of Merrilliopanax alpinus.[7]

Description

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Tetrapanax grows between 3–7 metres tall, with usually unbranched stems 2–9 cm in diameter, and bearing a rosette of large leaves atop the crown; the top of the plant can visually, albeit superficially, appear similar to a number of plants belonging to Arecaceae (the palm family). The leaves are carried on 40–60 cm petioles; the orbicular leaf blade measures from 50 to 75 cm across (to a metre across in some cultivars[8]), with anywhere from 5-12 deeply incised palmate lobes, the central lobes being larger and Y-forked near the end. It spreads extensively, by sprouts and runners from the root system, underground. The inflorescence is a large panicle of hemispherical or globular umbels, at the end of the stem. The flowers have 4-6 small, white petals. The fruit is a small berry 4 mm in diameter.[6]

Uses

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Tetrapanax papyrifer is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The pith from the stem is used to make a substance commonly known as rice paper,[6] but more properly termed pith paper.

The species is cultivated as an ornamental specimen plant, and has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4]

Cultivars

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The cultivar 'Rex' is a semi-evergreen shrub or tree with huge palmate leaves up to a metre diameter. Classified by the Royal Horticultural Society as H4, it is evergreen in mild locations, deciduous where temperatures fall below freezing, and herbaceous with more prolonged freezing. It prefers a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade.[8]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c POWO. "Tetrapanax papyrifer (Hook.) K.Koch". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  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. ^ a b "Tetrapanax papyrifer". RHS. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  5. ^ NRCS. "Tetrapanax papyrifer". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  6. ^ a b c 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b "Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex'". RHS. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
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