Mercurialis leiocarpa Siebold & Zucc.

Botanical classification

Mercurialis leiocarpa Siebold & Zucc.

Order:

Malpighiales

Family:

Euphorbiaceae

Synonyms:

Mercurialis leiocarpa var. transmorrisonensis (Hayata) H. Keng

Mercurialis leiocarpa var. trichocarpa W. T. Wang

Mercurialis transmorrisonensis Hayata

Plant growing area

Bhutan, China (Anhui, North Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), North East India, Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Ryukyu), Korea, Nepal, North Thailand.

Grows on mountain slopes or in valleys or forests at 300-2800 m altitude.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Japan, Korea.

Plant cultivation and use

Perennial rhizomatous herb; 30cm to 1m tall. Grows in clumps. It is dioecious and the small flowers bloom from March to April. It adapts to various exposures from sun to partial shade and to a variety of soils, acidic or calcareous.

A drying oil is obtained from the seed.

The chemical structure of the blue dyestuff is unknown. The proportion of colorant in the plant is low and contains impurities. The color fades easily.

Japan:

The dye was used primarily during the Nara period (710-794). Its use continued until the Edo period (1603-1868). It was famous for dyeing kimonos.

The dye was applied directly to the fabric leaving a blue-green color called suri-ai which means " rubbed blue."

Preparation process for making paper

Japan:

Leaves were harvested in summer and early autumn. After being left to macerate, they were rubbed directly onto the fabric which became blue.

Crushed roots and leaves could also be used to extract a liquid dye.

Dyeing of papers is performed in two ways: pulp dyeing (sukizome) or sheet dyeing (hitashizome by dipping or hikizome by brushing).

To dye paper by soaking, the sheets are plucked one by one between two wooden sticks by the small side. This will keep the sheet flat during soaking.

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

Shan dian	山靛

Japanese

Yamaai	やまあい

Korean

Sanjjokpul	산쪽풀

French

Indigo des montagnes
Mercurialis

English

Mountain indigo

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

Acheongchojuji
Acheongdoryeonji
Acheongji
Cheongbakji
Cheongjeojuji
Cheongseonjaji
Chwuji
Gamji

Used part of the plant:

Root

Leaf

Use for paper making:

Dye

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Mercurialis leiocarpa Siebold & Zucc.

Mercurialis leiocarpa Siebold & Zucc.

Papers