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Identification

Fibre type	Stem, straw
Average fibre lenght	1,6 mm (1.5– 3,2)
Average fibre width	23 µm (7.5 – 29.7)
Fibre ends	Pointed.
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases
Associated cells	Abundant parenchyma cells.
Special features	Faint walls.
Herzberg staining	Dark purple.
Graff 'C' staining	Purple.

Botanical classification

Coix lacryma-jobi L.

Order:

Poales

Family:

Poaceae

Synonyms:

Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. frumentacea Makino

Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen (Rom. Caill.) Stapf. ex Hook f.

Coix lacryma-jobi subsp. ma-yuen (Rom. Caill.) T. Koyama

Plant growing area

This species is native to warm-temperate regions of Asia. It is now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Bhutan Burma, China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Zhejiang), India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.

It grows near the streams, in marshy valleys, moist fields.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Korea.

Plant cultivation and use

Coix lacryma-jobi is widely cultivated in all tropical and subtropical regions. It is an annual tall grain-bearing plant.

Throughout East Asia, Job's Tears are available in dried form and cooked as a grain (in Korea and China, liquors are also distilled from the grain).

It is also used in traditional Chinese and Lao medicines as diuretic.

Korea:

Coix lachryma-jobi is used in combination with the paper mulberry fibers, as a complement.

Vernacular names

Chinese

Yiyi	薏苡

Japanese

Juzudama	ジュズダマ

Korean

Yulmu	율무

French

Herbe à chapelets
Larme-de-Job
Larmilles

English

Adlay
Edible adlay
Job’s tears
Large-fruited adlay

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.

Korea:

Suffix ji = paper.

In Korea papers made with paper mulberry bark are the most numerous.

Papers

Korea

Eyiji		Euiiji
Ryuyopji		Ryumojji, Uiiji
Yulmuji

Used part of the plant:

Stem

Straw

Use for paper making:

Fiber

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Coix lacryma-jobi L.

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