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'''''Tetrapanax papyriferus''''' ('''Tung-tsau''' or '''Rice-paper Plant''') is an [[evergreen]] [[shrub]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Araliaceae]], the sole [[species]] in the [[genus]] '''''Tetrapanax'''''. Its [[botanical name]] is unusual in that its [[specific epithet]] varies from one source to another, sometimes being rendered as "papyriferum" or "papyrifer". It is [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] to [[Taiwan]], but widely [[cultivated]] in [[East Asia]] and sometimes in other [[tropical]] regions as well.* <ref> George W. Staples and Derral R. Herbst. 2005. "A Tropical Garden Flora". Bishop Museum Press: Honolulu, HI, USA. </ref>

'''''Tetrapanax papyriferus''''' ('''Tung-tsau''' or '''Rice-paper Plant''') is an [[evergreen]] [[shrub]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Araliaceae]], the sole [[species]] in the [[genus]] '''''Tetrapanax'''''. Its [[botanical name]] is unusual in that its [[specific epithet]] varies from one source to another, sometimes being rendered as "papyriferum" or "papyrifer". It is [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] to [[Taiwan]], but widely [[cultivated]] in [[East Asia]] and sometimes in other [[tropical]] regions as well.* <ref> George W. Staples and Derral R. Herbst. 2005. "A Tropical Garden Flora". Bishop Museum Press: Honolulu, HI, USA. </ref>

The [[pith]] from the stem is used to make a substance commonly known as [[rice paper]], but more properly termed [[pith paper]].

The [[pith]] from the stem is used to make a substance commonly known as [[rice paper]], but more properly termed [[pith paper]].

It grows to 3-7 m tall, with usually unbranched stems 2&nbsp;cm diameter bearing a rosette of large [[leaf|leaves]] at the top (superficially similar to a [[Arecaceae|palm]] crown). The leaves are carried on 40-60&nbsp;cm petioles, the leaf blade orbicular, 30-50&nbsp;cm across, deeply palmately lobed with 5-11 primary lobes, the central lobes larger and Y-forked near the end. It spreads extensively by sprouts from the [[root]] system underground. The [[inflorescence]] is a large [[panicle]] of hemispherical to globular [[umbel]]s near the end of the stem. The [[flowers]] have 4 or 5 small white petals. The [[fruit]] is a small [[drupe]].

It grows to 3-7 m tall, with usually unbranched stems 2 cm diameter bearing a rosette of large [[leaf|leaves]] at the top (superficially similar to a [[Arecaceae|palm]] crown). The leaves are carried on 40-60 cm petioles, the leaf blade orbicular, 30-50 cm across, deeply palmately lobed with 5-11 primary lobes, the central lobes larger and Y-forked near the end. It spreads extensively by sprouts from the [[root]] system underground. The [[inflorescence]] is a large [[panicle]] of hemispherical to globular [[umbel]]s near the end of the stem. The [[flowers]] have 4 or 5 small white petals. The [[fruit]] is a small [[drupe]].

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