Pith

Description

The primary tissue system in the procambial strands of vascular plants. Pith paper is made from long ribbons of spirally cut pith obtained from from rice paper trees, Tetrapanax papyrifera cultivated in China, Japan and Taiwan from Aralia papyrifera cultivated in Thailand. The exposed cellular structure of the pith gives the paper a unique spongy structure. The delicate, porous texture of pith is also used to make artificial flowers, lightweight pith helmets, paintings, and molded figurines.

Synonyms and Related Terms

shola; pith paper

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• A Glossary of Paper Conservation Terms, Margaret Ellis (ed.), Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, New York City, 1998