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Tetrapanax papyrifer

(Hook.) K.Koch (1859)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Apiales Family: Araliaceae Genus: Tetrapanax

Chinese rice paper plant, Chinese rice-paper plant, rice paper plant, rice-paper plant, tung-tsau

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrubs or small trees, to 3.5 m tall, evergreen, hermaphroditic, unarmed, densely ferruginous or pale brown stellate tomentose.

Stems: Trunk to 9 cm in diam., pith homogeneous, white, large.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades ovate–oblong, 50–75 cm wide, 7–12–lobed. Apex acuminate. Base obtuse to cordate. Upper surfaces glabrous; lower surfaces densely ferruginous or stellate tomentose; blades papery or subleathery. Margins entire to coarsely serrate. Petioles terete (cylindrical), to 50 cm, glabrous. Stipules 2, awl–shaped, prominent, 7–8 cm.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescence terminal, peduncles 1–1.5 cm; umbels 1–2 cm in diam., many flowered. Flowers bisexual (perfect), yellowish white. Calyx ca. 1 mm, densely stellate tomentose. Corolla of 4(or 5) petals; petals ca. 2 mm, densely stellate tomentose. Stamens 4(or 5); filaments ca. 3 mm. Ovary inferior, 2-carpellate; styles 2, free, erect at anthesis, later recurved.

Fruit: Drupes dark purple at maturity; globose; slightly compressed laterally; ca. 4 mm in diam. Seeds laterally compressed; endosperm smooth.

Ploidy: 2n = 48*

Habitat: Mixed thickets.

Elevation Range: 100–2800 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Specimens

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Bibliography

Name Published In: Wochenschr. Gärtnerei Pflanzenk. 2: 371 (1859)

Other References

Staples & Herbst 2005:131 (KEY), 138 (DESCR); Lau & Frohlich 2012:8 (NEWNAT/O, DESCR); Parker & Parsons 2012a:56 (NEWNAT/H, DESCR)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Tetrapanax papyrifer Lihue, Isenberg estate Preserved_Specimen tree of 4 m, spreading from underground stolons MacDaniels, L.H. 915 Kauai BISH 1927-02-28
2 Tetrapanax papyrifer Manoa Valley Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1946-12-05
3 Tetrapanax papyrifer Koloko Mauka, N Kona District Naturalized. Assoc: Brugmansia xcandida, Passiflora ligularis, Elaeocarpus sp. Preserved_Specimen Vegeative collection made. Parker, J. 80 Hawaii BISH 2009-03-23
4 Tetrapanax papyrifer Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Crawford, C. Hawaii BISH 1953-12-22
5 Tetrapanax papyrifer Honolulu, Nuuanu Valley, Luakaha In shade under high trees. Preserved_Specimen Used for making rice paper. Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1941-06-12
6 Tetrapanax papyrifer Tantalus on Round Top Drive UTM 2358758 622883 Wet lowland residential area. Preserved_Specimen .4 m tall sapling, producing suckers at base. No flowers or fruit. OED 2009010901 Oahu BISH 2009-01-09
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