Herbe à éléphant

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Miscanthus sinensis Anders. © Flora of China

Identification

Fibre type	Stem, straw
Average fibre lenght	2mm
Average fibre width	20µm
Fibre ends	Pointed.
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases	Strong.
Associated cells	Epidermal cells present Pitted vessel elements and parenchyma cells
Special features
Herzberg staining	Blue
Graff 'C' staining	Blue

Botanical classification

Miscanthus sinensis Anders.

Order:

Poales

Family:

Poaceae

Synonyms:

Erianthus japonicus (Trin.) P. Beauv.

Eulalia japonica Trin.

Eulalia japonica Trin. ex Steud.

Eulalia japonica var. gracillima (Hitchc.) Grier

Miscanthus japonicus (Trin.) Andersson

Miscanthus japonicus Andersson

Miscanthus condensatus Hack.

Miscanthus kanehirae Honda

Miscanthus purpurascens Andersson

Miscanthus sinensis fo. gracillimus (Hitchc.) Ohwi

Miscanthus sinensis fo. sinensis

Miscanthus sinensis fo. variegatus (Beal) Beetle

Miscanthus sinensis subsp. purpurascens (Andersson) Tzvelev

Miscanthus sinensis var. gracillimus Hitchc.

Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens (Andersson) Matsum.

Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus (Hack.) Makino

Miscanthus transmorrisonensis Hayata

Miscanthus sinensis var. variegatus Beal

Miscanthus sinensis var. zebrinus Beal

Ripidium japonicum (Trin.) Trin.

Saccharum japonicum Thunb.

Saccharum japonicum Houtt.

Xiphagrostis japonicus (Trin.) Coville

Plant growing area

There are 14 species of Miscanthus, mostly located in South Asia and the Pacific Islands; two species are endemic to China.

China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Japan, Korea, Taiwan.

Grows on mountain slopes, on the coasts, below 2000 m.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Japan, Korea.

Plant cultivation and use

Herbaceous perennial plant forming dense clumps from underground rhizomes, at height of 0,80m to 4 m. The culms are topped by feathery silver spikes. It has a rapid growth, it adapts to various types of soils and is resistant to wind and spray. Flowering occurs in late summer.

Japan:

In Japan, the plant is used as thatching for traditional Japanese farmhouses.

In papermaking, it is mainly used to make the movable screen of the paper mould. Its smooth surface leaves no mark.

It is also used as fibers mixed with gampi or other fibers to make gasenshi.

After World War II, a papermaker named Shusaku Tomi, on the Noto peninsula (Ishikawa Prefecture), tried again to make paper with these fibers.

Korea:

From the Joseon period (1392-1910), raw materials traditionally used for paper production, mainly bark of Broussonetias begin to fail. Papermakers face to a growing demand for paper stimulated by the development of publications initiated during the Goryeo period (907-1392). Other plants will be used to provide a fiber supplement such as wisteria, rice, oat and barley straws, bamboo, jute, cotton and hemp but also willow leaves, reeds, the bark and needles of pine.
Indeed miscanthus sinensis seems to be used as a complementary fiber source to fibers of paper mulberry from the 15th century.

However, this reed is mainly used to make the movable screen of the paper mould. Its smooth surface leaves no mark.

Vernacular names

Chinese

Mang	芒

Japanese

Kaya	カヤ
Susuki	ススキ

Korean

Eoksae	억새

French

Eulalie
Herbe à éléphant
Miscanthus de Chine
Roseau de Chine

English

Chinese silver grass
Eulalia
Maiden grass
Plume grass
Zebra grass

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.

Japan:

Suffixes kami, gami, shi = paper.

In Japan kozo papers are the most numerous.

Papers

Japan

Gasenshi	画仙紙
Kaya gasen

Used part of the plant:

Stem

Use for paper making:

Fiber

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Herbe à éléphant

Miscanthus sinensis Anders.

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