Mulberry paper

Mulberry Paper

Description

An ornamental deciduous tree, Broussonetia papyrifera, native to eastern Asia. The bast fiber from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree is used in the manufacture of handmade oriental paper called Kozo. The fibers are also used to make cloth called Tapa (Polynesia) or masi (Fiji).

Synonyms and Related Terms

Broussonetia papyrifera; kozo; halivun; kalivon; masi (Fiji); deer's tree; mûrier à papier (Fr.);

File:Brpapyriferabarkw6.jpg

Paper mulberry Broussonetia payrifera)

Paper mulberry

Other Properties

Small tree growing to 15 m with round crown. Bark=grayish green with narrow furrows.

Fiber width = 6-24 microns with variable thickness and pointed ends. Striations often occur in groups to form nodes. Parenchymal cells are rectangular and often appear to have serrated edges.

Additional Information

° T.Collings, D. Miller, 'The Identification of Oriental Paper Fibers' The Paper Conservator, vol 3, 1978.

Authority

• R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966

• The Dictionary of Paper, American Paper Institute, New York, Fourth Edition, 1980

• E.J.LaBarre, Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Paper and Paper-making, Swets & Zeitlinger, Amsterdam, 1969

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "mulberry" Encyclopædia Britannica [Accessed October 24, 2001].

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_mulberry (Accessed Dec. 9, 2005)