Myrica rubra (Lour.) Siebold & Zucc.

Botanical classification

Myrica rubra (Lour.) Siebold & Zucc.

Order:

Fagales

Family:

Myricaceae

Synonyms:

Daphne argyi H. Lév.

Morella rubra Lour.

Myrica rubra var. acuminata Nakai

Plant growing area

China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Japan (Southern Honshu), Korea, Philippines, Taiwan.

Grows in forests in mountain slopes, in valleys from 100 to 1500 m.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

Korea, Japan.

Plant cultivation and use

Myrica rubra is an evergreen tree growing to 15 m. The plant prefers a moist soil, grows in sun or light shade. It is in bloom in March April. The fruits are red; they are as their seeds, edible.

Stem bark, fruits and seeds are used in traditonal medecine.

Leaves and twigs give a brown dye. The dye is a flavonoid, the myricétol which occurs mainly in the leaves.

Japan:

The dye is used in dyeing fabrics (kimonos) and also in the printing of engravings. It has been used since the Nara period (710-794); it was popular in combination with indigo to give black during the Edo period (1603-1868).

Preparation process for making paper

China:

Used in the form of leave and twig compost.

Japan:

The bark is cooked for approximately 24 hours in water and then the liquid is filtered. Colour turns to a yellow-brown colour when used with an alum or ash lye mordant; when used with an iron mordant it gives a green to brown colour.

Dyeing is done in two ways: dyeing the paper pulp (sukizome) or the sheet (hitashizome-dipping or brushing-hikizome). Usually the pulp is dyed in the vat before making the sheet.

Korea:

The papers are dyed in three ways: dyeing of the pulp (Seonyeombeop), dyeing of the sheet by dipping, brushing and spraying (Huyeombeop ), combination of the both methods (Honyeombeop). Then the paper can be hammered.

Vernacular names

Chinese

Yang mei	杨梅

Japanese

Yamamomo	やまもも, ヤマモモ, 楊梅

Korean

Sogwinamu	소귀나무

English

Bayberry
Mountain peach

Paper names

In Asia and particularly in China, Korea and Japan, the papers are intended for a wide range of use: Papers for calligraphy and art, Papers for ceremonies, Paper as a medium of exchange, money paper, Papers for making clothes, wall hangings and bedding, Papers for architecture, interior design, Papers for crafts of various kinds, for domestic purposes and leisure. The names assigned to the paper refers to different notions: The material used, The place of production, The method of production, Appearance, Dimensions, Use, The name of an artist or a studio etc.

Used part of the plant:

Leaf

Twigs

Bark

Use for paper making:

Dye

Search form

Myrica rubra (Lour.) Siebold & Zucc.

Myrica rubra (Lour.) Siebold & Zucc.