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Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc.© Flora of China

Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc.© C. Laroque

Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc.© K. Yamasaki

Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc. © T.H. Choi

Identification

Fibre type	Inner bark Needles
Average fibre lenght	Inner bark: 1,8 mm Needles: 1 mm
Average fibre width	Inner bark: 18,6 µm Needles: 20,6 µm
Fibre ends	Inner bark : Rounded Needles : Blunt
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases	Inner bark: very faint fiber wall. Needles: prominent fiber wall. No cross-marking for the both.
Associated cells
Special features	Inner bark: very wide fibers. Needles : uneven fiber wall and round stoma.
Herzberg staining	Purple
Graff 'C' staining	Purple

Botanical classification

Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc.

Order:

Pinales

Family:

Pinaceae

Plant growing area

China (East and South Heilongjiang, North-East Jiangsu, South-East Jilin, Liaoning, East and North Shandong), Korea, Japan (South Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu), East Russia (Southern Primorsky Krai).

From coastal regions to mountains, on lakesides, on rocky hillsides.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Japan, Korea.

Plant cultivation and use

Pinus densiflora is a conifer reaching 30 m in height. In winter it becomes yellowish.

It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils and full sun. It grows from sea level to 900 m.

In Japan, historically, it has been one of the most important species used in the architecture. It plays an important part in the classic Japanese garden as ornemental tree.

Japan:

It seems that Japanese papermakers have attempted to use pine fibers during the 17th century as a fiber supplement to the barks of paper mulberry.

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 glycine, rice, oat and barley straws, bamboo, jute, cotton and hemp but also willow leaves, reeds, the bark and needles of pine.
Indeed, the inner bark and the needles seem to be used as a complementary fiber source to fibers of paper mulberry from the 15th century.

Paper names

In Asia and particularly 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.

Used part of the plant:

Leaf

Bark

Use for paper making:

Fiber

Language:

English

Botanical classification

Actinidia chinensis Planch.

Order:

Ericales

Family:

Actinidiaceae

Plant growing area

China (Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Taiwan.

Grows in mountain forests, in thickets on low mountains (200-2600 m).

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China.

China:

Guizhou.

Plant cultivation and use

Actinidia chinensis is a deciduous climber growing to 7.5 m. It is the producer of kiwifruit widely cultivated in China and elsewhere.

It has medicinal uses: the fruits, stems and roots are diuretic, febrifuge and sedative.

The plant is said to have insecticidal properties.

A mucilage is extracted from the stem and the leaves which is used as formation aid in paper making. This viscous material is added to the pulp to increase its viscosity and thus delay the settling of fibers in the tank. In addition, the mucilage allows a better dispersion of the long fibers.

China:

It is part of Materia Medica sinensis. A decoction made from the stems is mentioned as formation aid at least since the Song. The use of Actinidia chinensis is mentioned in the tales of "Guixinzashi" or "Miscellaneous news from Guixin street " by Zhou Mi (mid 13^th century)

There are numerous citations during the Ming dynasty as in "Wulixiaoshi"» or "Some Knowledge of Physics" by Fang Yishi (1643).

It is a widely used as formation aid beside Hibiscus manihot.

Preparation process for making paper

China:

Seeds are sown in spring in a greenhouse and they germinate in 2 - 3 months.

The stems are crushed and soaked. The decoction is filtered before use.

Used part of the plant:

Leaf

Stem

Use for paper making:

Formation aid

Language:

French

Botanical classification

Actinidia chinensis Planch.

Order:

Ericales

Family:

Actinidiaceae

Plant growing area

China (Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Taiwan.

Grows in mountain forests, in thickets on low mountains (200-2600 m).

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China.

China:

Guizhou.

Plant cultivation and use

Actinidia chinensis is a deciduous climber growing to 7.5 m. It is the producer of kiwifruit widely cultivated in China and elsewhere.

It has medicinal uses: the fruits, stems and roots are diuretic, febrifuge and sedative.

The plant is said to have insecticidal properties.

China:

There are numerous citations during the Ming dynasty as in "Wulixiaoshi"» or "Some Knowledge of Physics" by Fang Yishi (1643).

It is a widely used as formation aid beside Hibiscus manihot.

Preparation process for making paper

China:

Seeds are sown in spring in a greenhouse and they germinate in 2 - 3 months.

The stems are crushed and soaked. The decoction is filtered before use.

Used part of the plant:

Leaf

Stem

Use for paper making:

Formation aid

Language:

French

Botanical classification

Actinidia chinensis Planch.

Order:

Ericales

Family:

Actinidiaceae

Plant growing area

China (Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Taiwan.

Grows in mountain forests, in thickets on low mountains (200-2600 m).

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China.

China:

Guizhou.

Plant cultivation and use

Actinidia chinensis is a deciduous climber growing to 7.5 m. It is the producer of kiwifruit widely cultivated in China and elsewhere.

It has medicinal uses: the fruits, stems and roots are diuretic, febrifuge and sedative.

The plant is said to have insecticidal properties.

China:

There are numerous citations during the Ming dynasty as in "Wulixiaoshi"» or "Some Knowledge of Physics" by Fang Yishi (1643).

It is a widely used as formation aid beside Hibiscus manihot.

Preparation process for making paper

China:

Seeds are sown in spring in a greenhouse and they germinate in 2 - 3 months.

The stems are crushed and soaked. The decoction is filtered before use.

Used part of the plant:

Leaf

Stem

Use for paper making:

Formation aid

Botanical classification

Quercus acutissima Carruth.

Order:

Fagales

Family:

Fagaceae

Synonyms:

Quercus acutissima var. depressinucata H. W. Jen & R. Q. Gao

Quercus acutissima var. macrocarpa X.W. Li & Y.Q. Zhu

Quercus acutissima var. septentrionalis Liou

Quercus lunglingensis Hu

Plant growing area

Originally native to eastern Asia, in China, Korea and Japan.

Bhutan, Cambodia, China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, South East Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang), North East India, Japan (south Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu), Korea, Burma, Nepal, North Thailand, Vietnam.

Grows in deciduous forests, below 100-2200 m altitude.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Japan, Korea.

Plant cultivation and use

Quercus acutissima is a deciduous tree, reaching 25-30 m in height. Flowering occurs in April-May. Flowers, catkins shaped give a fruit, acorn shaped with a big cup.

The wood has the same characteristics as other oaks but tends to crack. It is used as an ornamental in parks, for making tools, for charcoal. It is mainly used for its tannins contained in the bark.

For dyeing, acorn cupules are used. The colors are brown.
Dyeing ingredients are tannins which are found in the bark, the acorn cupules and the galls. These tannins are a mixture of polyphenols: hydrolysable tannins (ellagitannins), condensed tannins (procyanidins), hybrid tannins (gallo-tannins and ellagiflavano-tanins).

China:

Quercus acutissima is mentioned for the preparation of brown dyes in two books of the late 16th century, "Zunsheng bajian" or "Eight orders to follow the meaning of life" by Gao Lian and « Kuaixue tang manlu » or “Cloudy Notes from joyful snow Palace " by Feng Mengzhen.

Japan:

It is a tree used since ancient times in Japan for the production of charcoal, because it has a quite rapid growing.

Always gray was one of the most popular colors in Japan. During the Edo period (1603-1868) the acorn is widely used for dyeing fabrics in gray and black, especially for the costumes of Noh Theater. In the Engishiki (Compendium of laws dated 927 by Fujiwara no Tadahira) there is a mention of a color called Tsurubami (that is to say the acorn color).

Other oak species are also used in Japan for their acorns: Kashiwa (Quercus dentata Thunb.) Konara (Quercus serrata Murray) Shirakashi (Quercu myrsinaefolia Bl).

Preparation process for making paper

China:

The dye is a decoction of oak acorns. The cupules are boiled and then the extract is filtered before to be used. It can be used in combination with other dyes to change the color. Gao Lian in "Zunsheng bajian" or "Eight orders to follow the meaning of life" (1591) proposes to prepare three dyeing baths: phellodendron, oak acorns and safflower in which the paper sheet is dipped successively starting with the phellodendron bath then oak acorn bath and finishing with the safflower bath. Between each bath sheet is dried.

Japan:

Harvesting takes place when acorns are ripe in late summer. After picking, the acorn cupules are dried. Then they will be grinded into powder and boiled. The decoction is filtered before being used. The paper sheets are soaked into the dye bath and allowed to dry. The color obtained is a brown tone ranging from beige to brown depending on the number of passes through the bath. It is possible to use various mordants to obtain other colors. Without mordant the color obtain is beige to brown; if the mordant is an ash lye or copper acetate, color is yellow-brow; if mordant is an iron salt, the color varies from gray to black.Dyeing of paper 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.

Usually three jars of dye are prepared with decreasing concentrations. The paper is dipped in the less concentrated dye jar and oxidation occurs in the air; the paper is then soaked in the little bit more concentrated dye. After oxidation, the sheet is dipped into the third jar with the strongest concentration. The process can be repeated several times to obtain a color more or less intense. The sheet is dried by exposing the surface to air; the color changes by oxidation.

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.

Paper names

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.

Used part of the plant:

Bark

Fruit

Use for paper making:

Dye

Stellera Chamaejasme L. © CFH Nature Museum

Stellera Chamaejasme L. © A. Helman-Ważny

Identification

Fibre type	Bast fiber
Average fibre lenght	0,5 – 4 mm
Average fibre width	4 – 20 µ
Fibre ends	Rounded or sometimes pointed.
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases
Associated cells
Special features	Fibers have ribbon-like shape. “Transparent” like flabby cotton fibers. Cell wall very thin, irregular, very flexible and more irregular compared to Daphne and Edgeworthia. Lumen is often delineated by wavy fiber walls, which creates very irregular space inside the fiber cell.
Herzberg staining	Olive-grey to blue.
Graff 'C' staining

Botanical classification

Stellera Chamaejasme L.

Order:

Malvales

Family:

Thymelaeaceae

Synonyms:

Chamaejasme stelleriana Kuntze

Passerina chamaejasme Fisch. ex Meisn.

Passerina stelleri Wikstr.

Stellera bodinieri H. Lév.

Stellera chamaejasme f. angustifolia Diels

Stellera chamaejasme f. chrysantha S. C. Huang

Stellera rosea Nakai

Wikstroemia chamaejasme (L.) Domke

Plant growing area

Stellera Chamaejasme is found from North Asia to India.

Bhutan, China (Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol/Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang/Sinkiang, Xizang/Tibet, Yunnan) Mongolia, Nepal, Russia.

It grows on sunny and dry slopes, in sandy places from 2600 to 4200 m.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Nepal.

China:

Xizang (Tibet), Yunnan.

Plant cultivation and use

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.

China:

There are 14 species of wikstroemia in Yunnan. Bai, Naxi and Tibetans. Bai, Naxi and Tibetans in the counties of Lijiang and Zhongdian manufacture paper for religious use with the root of Stellera chamaejasme. The yellow paper (unbleached), symbol of money paper is burned during celebrations such as the festival of the spring day (first day of Chinese lunar year), or the festival of the ghost day (fifteenth day of the seventh Chinese lunar month), or the festival of the dragon boat (fifth day of the fifth Chinese lunar month).

In China, root is also used as pesticide placed on book shelves.

Preparation process for making paper

China:

Brown-skin of the roots must be scraped by hand before cooking. Then they are cooked in alkaline lye for half an hour. Beating is performed in a stone mortar with a heavy wooden mallet, for half an hour, two people working together. Then the pulp is dispersed in a bucket of water.
The mould consists of a wooden frame with a stretched fabric. It floats on the surface of the tank filled with water. The pulp is poured into the mould and is distributed evenly by hands. The mould is lifted horizontally to avoid casting the pulp to flow. Then it is left to air dry overnight. The sheet is then detached from the mould.

Paper names

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.

Used part of the plant:

Root

Use for paper making:

Fiber

Phellodendron sachalinense (F. Schmidt) Sarg. © Flora of China

Phellodendron sachalinense (F. Schmidt) Sarg. © Plantillustrations

Botanical classification

Phellodendron sachalinense (F. Schmidt) Sarg.

Order:

Sapindales

Family:

Rutaceae

Synonyms:

Phellodendron amurense var. sacchalinense F. Schmitt

Plant growing area

Native to east and northeast Asia.

China (Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Japan, Korea, Russia (Sakhalin island).

Mixed broad-leaved forests, open to dense forests; Grows at an altitude from 800 to 3000 m.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Japan, Korea .

Plant cultivation and use

Phellodendron sachalinense is a deciduous tree which can reach 15m high with irregular branching.

It has a rapid growth. As it is hardy and can thrive in various soils but prefers sunny exposure. Clumped flowers are yellow. Flowering occurs in early summer. It is often considered as geographical variety of Phellodendron amurense but it differs to it in its thinner layer of cork; like it, its fruits yield an oil which insecticidal properties are similar to those of pyrethrum.

Phellodendron sachalinense has dyeing properties conferred by the alkaloids it contains (mainly berberine).The color varies from pale yellow to brown depending on the concentration.

Phellodendron amurense and Phellodendron sachalinense are both used for the same purpose. It is possible to distinguish them by analysis of the proportions of the alkaloids.

China:

Its use in China is the same as for Phellodendron amurense.

Japan:

Its use in japan is the same as for Phellodendron amurense.

Korea:

Its use in Korea is the same as for Phellodendron amurense.

Preparation process for making paper

China:

The outer bark of Phellodendron, chopped into pieces is placed in a bag, soaked in water and boiled; then the filtrate, a bitter yellow liquid, is collected by pressing the bark.
The residues are crushed and boiled again, three times and the filtrates of the three baths are mixed. This allows for a bigger quantity of liquid and a less saturated color. This liquid is called Huang po.
The paper to be dyed must be unsized to let dye penetrates better. The paper after dyeing has a glossy appearance.

Japan:

Wood is cut in small pieces and boiled. The extract is filtered before dyeing.

Dyeing of paper 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:

Wood is cut in small pieces and boiled. The extract is filtered before dyeing.

Papers dyed with Phellodendron amurense are fixed by etching with tannins extracted from the bark of chestnut or oak acorns.

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.

Used part of the plant:

Bark

Stem

Use for paper making:

Dye

Language:

French

Wikstroemia sikokiana Franc. & Sav. © LB Vilmont

Identification

Fibre type	Bast fiber
Average fibre lenght	3mm (2-4mm)
Average fibre width	12µm (4-20µm)
Fibre ends	Very variable.
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases	Faint surface markings. V or zigzag cross-markings under polarized light.
Associated cells	Many associated cells of various shapes (rectangular), often broken.
Special features	Quiet short fibers with broad central portions. Flater fibers than mitsumata; may be twisted.
Herzberg staining	Yellow/ Bluish Green.
Graff 'C' staining	Bright blue.

Botanical classification

Wikstroemia sikokiania Franc. & Sav.

Order:

Malvales

Family:

Thymelaeaceae

Synonyms:

Daphne sikokiana (Franch. & Sav.) Halda

Diplomorpha sikokiana (Franch. & Sav.) Nakai

Plant growing area

China, Korea, Japan.

Wikstroemia sikokiana grows in temperate climates, among the rocks on the mountain slopes between 1000 to 2800m (until 3500m), in the vicinity of sunny forest areas.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Korea, Japan.

Japan:

Chubu (Fukui, Nagano, Ishikawa, Shizuoka prefectures ), Chugoku (Shimane, Tottori, Yamaguchi prefectures), Kansai (Hyogo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Shiga, Wakayama prefectures), Kanto (Saitama prefecture), Kyushu (Miyazaki, Saga prefecture), Okinawa, Shikoku (Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, Tokushima prefectures).

Plant cultivation and use

Wikstroemia sikokiana is a shrub of the Thymelaceae family, family, which includes nearly 500 species in 44 genera. There is a great confusion among the various Wikstroemias, Stelleras, Edgeworthias and especially Daphnes, because their morphologies are very similar.

Thymelaceaes are base plants for paper making in the Himalaya areas. The plants are valued for the large amount of hemicelluloses contained in the bark. They are also very much used in Chinese medicine.

Wikstroemia sikokiana is a deciduous shrub, growing slowly up to 2m. Blooming takes place between May and June. Its fruits are not edible and it has no known medicinal use.

The plant is often harvested in the wild because if it can be domesticated, it is with difficulty. It takes 5 to 7 years for the plant reaches a sufficient height (2m) to be harvested for its bark.

The sap is toxic and it is probably the reason why the paper is resistant to insects.

China:

There are 14 Wikstroemia species in Yunnan among which 6 are located in the northwest (W. delavayi, W. leptophylla, W. canescens, W. lichiangensis, W. scytophylla, W. lamatsoensis).

Japan:

Gampi fibers would be used since the Nara period (710-794). There is evidence that the papers are highly valued at the court during the Heian period (794-1185) for writing poems, and these papers were dyed or may be decorated.

The Torinoko (cf. this name) of the former province of Echizen (Fukui Prefecture) appears in the middle ages, and it owes its name "bird’s child" because of its eggshell color and its glossy surface. It is used for calligraphy as it is a shinny paper on which ink does not bleed.

From Muromachi period (1336-1573) to Edo period (1603-1867), gampi papers are used as support for paintings because they increase sharpness of gold leaf decorations, very popular in those times.

Gampi was used in large quantities during the Meiji period (1868-1912), for the production of duplicating papers (cf.Tosa gampishi) used with the mimeograph or alcohol duplicator.
Currently, as cultivation is difficult, harvesting of shrubs growing in the wild, still exists. Fiber demand exceeds production so a part of gampi is imported from the Philippines.

One hundred kilograms of harvested gampi gives three to five kilograms of paper.

Preparation process for making paper

Japan:

Harvesting takes place every three years from mid-March to late April when the sap is rising and makes the fibers bright and makes debarking easier.
The bark is peeled off immediately without steaming and hung to dry.

At this stage the bark is called "black bark". Alkaline cooking is done at this stage and lasts 2 to 3 hours. The alkaline agent is wood ashes lye or lime or caustic soda. Bleaching is sometimes made with chlorine.

After cooking, barks are placed in water for several days to remove cooking residues. It also allows achieving bleaching.

Beating is done manually or with a small hollander beater. Removing impurities is done manually or, more recently, with diaphragm flat screen because the fibers are relatively short. In this case the sorting is done after pulp beating.

Paper names

Japan:

Suffixes kami, gami, shi = paper.

In Japan kozo papers are the most numerous.

Used part of the plant:

Bark

Use for paper making:

Fiber

Wikstroemia retusa A. Gray © CFH Nature Museum

Identification

Fibre type
Average fibre lenght
Average fibre width
Fibre ends
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases
Associated cells
Special features
Herzberg staining
Graff 'C' staining

Botanical classification

Wikstroemia retusa A. Gray

Order:

Malvales

Family:

Thymelaeaceae

Synonyms:

Daphne grayana Halda

Wikstroemia obavata Hemsl.

Plant growing area

Japan, Philippines,Taiwan.

Grows in forest thickets, deforested slopes, grasslands.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

Japan.

Plant cultivation and use

Wikstroemia canescens is a shrub of the Thymelaceae family, family, which includes nearly 500 species in 44 genera. There is a great confusion among the various Wikstroemias, Stelleras, Edgeworthias and especially Daphnes, because their morphologies are very similar.

Wikstroemia retusa is an evergreen shrub, 1 to 3m high.

China:

There are 14 wikstroemia species in Yunnan among which 6 are located in the northwest (delavayi, leptophylla, canescens, lichiangensis, scytophylla, lamatsoensis).

Japan:

It has been used since the Nara period (710-793).

Preparation process for making paper

Japan:

Harvesting takes place every three years from mid-March to late April when the sap is rising and makes the fibers bright and debarking easier.

The bark is peeled off immediately without steaming and hung to dry. At this stage the bark is called "black bark".

Alkaline cooking is done at this stage and lasts 2 to 3 hours. The alkaline agent is wood ashes lye or lime or caustic soda. Bleaching is sometimes made with chlorine. After cooking barks are placed in water for several days to remove cooking residues. It also allows achieving bleaching.

Beating is done manually or with a small hollander beater.

Removing hard impurities is done manually or, more recently, with diaphragm flat screen because the fibers are relatively short. In this case the sorting is done after pulp beating.

Paper names

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.

Used part of the plant:

Bark

Use for paper making:

Fiber

Language:

Japanese

Local scripture:

あおガンピ

青雁皮

Identification

Fibre type	Bast fiber
Average fibre lenght	3mm (2-4mm)
Average fibre width	12µm (4-20µm)
Fibre ends	Very variable.
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases	Faint surface markings. V or zigzag cross-markings under polarized light.
Associated cells	Many associated cells of various shapes (rectangular), often broken.
Special features	Quiet short fibers with broad central portions. Flater fibers than mitsumata; may be twisted.
Herzberg staining	Yellow/ Bluish Green.
Graff 'C' staining	Bright blue.

Botanical classification

Wikstroemia sikokiania Franc. & Sav.

Order:

Malvales

Family:

Thymelaeaceae

Synonyms:

Daphne sikokiana (Franch. & Sav.) Halda

Diplomorpha sikokiana (Franch. & Sav.) Nakai

Plant growing area

China, Korea, Japan.

Wikstroemia sikokiana grows in temperate climates, among the rocks on the mountain slopes between 1000 to 2800m (until 3500m), in the vicinity of sunny forest areas.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Korea, Japan.

Japan:

Plant cultivation and use

Wikstroemia sikokiana is a deciduous shrub, growing slowly up to 2m. Blooming takes place between May and June. Its fruits are not edible and it has no known medicinal use.

The plant is often harvested in the wild because if it can be domesticated, it is with difficulty. It takes 5 to 7 years for the plant reaches a sufficient height (2m) to be harvested for its bark.

The sap is toxic and it is probably the reason why the paper is resistant to insects.

China:

There are 14 Wikstroemia species in Yunnan among which 6 are located in the northwest (W. delavayi, W. leptophylla, W. canescens, W. lichiangensis, W. scytophylla, W. lamatsoensis).

Japan:

From Muromachi period (1336-1573) to Edo period (1603-1867), gampi papers are used as support for paintings because they increase sharpness of gold leaf decorations, very popular in those times.

One hundred kilograms of harvested gampi gives three to five kilograms of paper.

Preparation process for making paper

Japan:

After cooking, barks are placed in water for several days to remove cooking residues. It also allows achieving bleaching.

Paper names

Japan:

Suffixes kami, gami, shi = paper.

In Japan kozo papers are the most numerous.

Used part of the plant:

Bark

Use for paper making:

Fiber

Identification

Fibre type
Average fibre lenght
Average fibre width
Fibre ends
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases
Associated cells
Special features
Herzberg staining
Graff 'C' staining

Botanical classification

Wikstroemia retusa A. Gray

Order:

Malvales

Family:

Thymelaeaceae

Synonyms:

Daphne grayana Halda

Wikstroemia obavata Hemsl.

Plant growing area

Japan, Philippines,Taiwan.

Grows in forest thickets, deforested slopes, grasslands.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

Japan.

Plant cultivation and use

Wikstroemia retusa is an evergreen shrub, 1 to 3m high.

China:

There are 14 wikstroemia species in Yunnan among which 6 are located in the northwest (delavayi, leptophylla, canescens, lichiangensis, scytophylla, lamatsoensis).

Japan:

It has been used since the Nara period (710-793).

Preparation process for making paper

Japan:

Harvesting takes place every three years from mid-March to late April when the sap is rising and makes the fibers bright and debarking easier.

The bark is peeled off immediately without steaming and hung to dry. At this stage the bark is called "black bark".

Beating is done manually or with a small hollander beater.

Removing hard impurities is done manually or, more recently, with diaphragm flat screen because the fibers are relatively short. In this case the sorting is done after pulp beating.

Paper names

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.

Used part of the plant:

Bark

Use for paper making:

Fiber

Language:

French

Identification

Fibre type	Bast fiber
Average fibre lenght	3mm (2-4mm)
Average fibre width	12µm (4-20µm)
Fibre ends	Very variable.
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases	Faint surface markings. V or zigzag cross-markings under polarized light.
Associated cells	Many associated cells of various shapes (rectangular), often broken.
Special features	Quiet short fibers with broad central portions. Flater fibers than mitsumata; may be twisted.
Herzberg staining	Yellow/ Bluish Green.
Graff 'C' staining	Bright blue.

Botanical classification

Wikstroemia sikokiania Franc. & Sav.

Order:

Malvales

Family:

Thymelaeaceae

Synonyms:

Daphne sikokiana (Franch. & Sav.) Halda

Diplomorpha sikokiana (Franch. & Sav.) Nakai

Plant growing area

China, Korea, Japan.

Wikstroemia sikokiana grows in temperate climates, among the rocks on the mountain slopes between 1000 to 2800m (until 3500m), in the vicinity of sunny forest areas.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Korea, Japan.

Japan:

Plant cultivation and use

Wikstroemia sikokiana is a deciduous shrub, growing slowly up to 2m. Blooming takes place between May and June. Its fruits are not edible and it has no known medicinal use.

The plant is often harvested in the wild because if it can be domesticated, it is with difficulty. It takes 5 to 7 years for the plant reaches a sufficient height (2m) to be harvested for its bark.

The sap is toxic and it is probably the reason why the paper is resistant to insects.

China:

There are 14 Wikstroemia species in Yunnan among which 6 are located in the northwest (W. delavayi, W. leptophylla, W. canescens, W. lichiangensis, W. scytophylla, W. lamatsoensis).

Japan:

From Muromachi period (1336-1573) to Edo period (1603-1867), gampi papers are used as support for paintings because they increase sharpness of gold leaf decorations, very popular in those times.

One hundred kilograms of harvested gampi gives three to five kilograms of paper.

Preparation process for making paper

Japan:

After cooking, barks are placed in water for several days to remove cooking residues. It also allows achieving bleaching.

Paper names

Japan:

Suffixes kami, gami, shi = paper.

In Japan kozo papers are the most numerous.

Used part of the plant:

Bark

Use for paper making:

Fiber

Identification

Fibre type
Average fibre lenght
Average fibre width
Fibre ends
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases
Associated cells
Special features
Herzberg staining
Graff 'C' staining

Botanical classification

Wikstroemia retusa A. Gray

Order:

Malvales

Family:

Thymelaeaceae

Synonyms:

Daphne grayana Halda

Wikstroemia obavata Hemsl.

Plant growing area

Japan, Philippines,Taiwan.

Grows in forest thickets, deforested slopes, grasslands.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

Japan.

Plant cultivation and use

Wikstroemia retusa is an evergreen shrub, 1 to 3m high.

China:

There are 14 wikstroemia species in Yunnan among which 6 are located in the northwest (delavayi, leptophylla, canescens, lichiangensis, scytophylla, lamatsoensis).

Japan:

It has been used since the Nara period (710-793).

Preparation process for making paper

Japan:

Harvesting takes place every three years from mid-March to late April when the sap is rising and makes the fibers bright and debarking easier.

The bark is peeled off immediately without steaming and hung to dry. At this stage the bark is called "black bark".

Beating is done manually or with a small hollander beater.

Removing hard impurities is done manually or, more recently, with diaphragm flat screen because the fibers are relatively short. In this case the sorting is done after pulp beating.

Paper names

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.

Used part of the plant:

Bark

Use for paper making:

Fiber

Primary tabs

Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc.

Actinidia chinensis Planch.

Actinidia chinensis Planch.

Actinidia chinensis Planch.

Quercus acutissima Carruth.

Stellera Chamaejasme L.

Phellodendron sachalinense (F. Schmidt) Sarg.

Wikstroemia sikokiania Franc. & Sav.

Wikstroemia retusa A. Gray

Wikstroemia sikokiania Franc. & Sav.

Wikstroemia retusa A. Gray

Wikstroemia sikokiania Franc. & Sav.

Wikstroemia retusa A. Gray

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Primary tabs

Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc.

Actinidia chinensis Planch.

Actinidia chinensis Planch.

Actinidia chinensis Planch.

Quercus acutissima Carruth.

Stellera Chamaejasme L.

Phellodendron sachalinense (F. Schmidt) Sarg.

Wikstroemia sikokiania Franc. & Sav.

Wikstroemia retusa A. Gray

Wikstroemia sikokiania Franc. & Sav.

Wikstroemia retusa A. Gray

Wikstroemia sikokiania Franc. & Sav.

Wikstroemia retusa A. Gray

Pages