Daphnes are shrubs or sub-shrubs of the Thymelaceae family. Daphnes comprise from 50 to 95 species, according to the classifications. Some species grow in the plains, others in the mountains, in rockery; they appreciate calcareous soils. The plants are recognizable by their colorful flowers and toxic fruits.
There is a great confusion among the various Daphnes, Edgeworthias and especially Wikstroemias because their morphologies are very similar.
The etymology of daphne comes from the name of the nymph, daughter of Peneus, who pursued by Apollo, was transformed into a laurel tree to escape.
The Daphne odora is an evergreen shrub that can reach 1.5 m in height and prefers sunny areas. It is easy to propagate but its life does not exceed ten years.
The bark contains a large amount of hemicelluloses which makes it valuable in the manufacture of paper. Daphnes are the base plants for making paper at the foot of Himalayas.
All parts of the plant are said to be poisonous, however the roots and bark are used in the traditional Nepalese medicine in the treatment of fevers. The bark has a high content of diterpene esters of tigliane daphnane type.
