Rice

Ceylon rice fields
MFA# 26.784

Kanamono with rice sheaves; MFA# 11.5606

Description

A thin stalk of the Oryzo sativa Grass. Rice straw is used for papermaking. During World War II it was also used for coarse rope because of the shortage of other bast fibers.

See also Rice flour, Rice husk, Rice oil, Rice paper, Rice starch, and Rice wax

Mature rice

Synonyms and Related Terms

rice straw; arroz (Esp.)

Physical and Chemical Properties

Fiber width = 6-12 microns; straight with tapering ends; Striations are fine and well-spaced; Parenchymal cells have a serrated edge.

For paper fiber characteristics see Straw.

Additional Images

• 

  Rice harvesting

• 

  Mature rice

• 

  U.S. long grain rice

• 

  Rice varieties

• 

  Rice straw paper

• 

  Rice paper pulp stained with Graff "C" stain

• 

  Rice paper pulp stained with Graff "C" stain

Resources and Citations

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

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 669

• Silvie Turner, Which Paper?, Design Press, New York, 1991

• Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles, Phyllis G.Tortora, Robert S. Merkel (eds.), Fairchild Publications, New York City, 7th edition, 1996