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 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

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

Description

Tetrapanax grows between 3–7 metres tall, usually with unbranched stems 2 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 30–50 cm across, with anywhere from 5-12 deeply palmately 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.

Uses

Tetrapanax papyrifer is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The pith from the stem is used to make a substance commonly known as rice paper,[4] 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.[6]

Cultivars

The cultivar 'Rex' is a semi-evergreen shrub or tree with huge palmate leaves. 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.[7]

References
  1. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Tetrapanax papyrifer". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. 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.
  6. "Tetrapanax papyrifer". RHS. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  7. "Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex'". RHS. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
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