Stelleras are sub-shrubs of the Thymelaceae family. Thymelaceae are the base plants for making paper at the foot of Himalayas. Some species grow in the plains, others in the mountains, in rockery; they appreciate calcareous soils.
Genus Stellera includes less than ten species that grow in places quite dry or arid as found in Central Asia, Iran and the highlands of Tibet. The plants are recognizable by their colorful flowers and toxic fruits.
Genus Stellera is very close to genus Daphnae. Therefore there is a great confusion among the various Stellera, Wikstroemias, Edgeworthias and especially Daphnes because their morphologies are very similar.
Stellera chamaejasme, also often called Wikstroemia chamaejasme, is a perennial from 20 to 50cm in height. It grows in arid areas where few plants thrive. It is in flower in June, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The roots are rhizomes; they are thick. They are poisonous but have medicinal and insecticide properties.
The fibers of the roots are used to make rope and paper. Indeed they contain a large amount of hemicelluloses which makes them valuable in the manufacture of paper.
In Tibet, the paper made from the roots of Stellera chamaejasme is regarded as high quality paper and is reserved for special purposes such as paper money.
