Paper bush - Important for the production of Japanese paper
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Edgeworthia chrysantha is a plant species in the daphne family (Thymelaeaceae). It is native to China and thrives in forests and on shrub-covered slopes. In Japan, the plant is cultivated as a neophyte. The English name for the plant is paper bush.
The long bast fibres are used to produce high-quality paper, Japanese paper. The twigs are harvested in spring or early summer and the leaves are removed. The branches are steamed until the fibres and outer bark can be removed. The fibres are then boiled for two hours with soda ash and beaten with hammers or treated in a mixer. The colour of the Japanese paper is off-white.
