The rice paper plant will grow under almost any conditions, but prefers sun to partial shade and well-drained soils. That’s why people who grow it usually wait until the end of winter to do any pruning: by then. Also the reddish hairs that cover the stems and the new leaves cause considerable irritation if inhaled or even just handled. If the appearance and history of this plant attracts you and you’d like to try growing it, be forewarned that it’s quite a thug, producing long vagabond rhizomes that often pop up far from the mother plant. It won’t bloom under such conditions though. In zones 6 and 7, it act as a die-back shrub or, if you prefer, a giant perennial, losing both stems and leaves to the cold, but sprouting anew each spring from its roots. In the colder parts of zone 8, although its stems survive the winter, it will lose its leaves, with new ones appearing in spring. In such a climate, its leaves will be evergreen and it blooms readily, producing terminal clusters of fuzzy white flowers. In zones 9 to 11, as well as in warmer parts of zone 8, it is fully hardy and can be grown as an outdoor shrub. In warmer ones, it doesn’t need a greenhouse and can be seen outdoors. At least, you’ll see it in greenhouses in cold climates. Because of its size, though, you’re more likely to see it in the greenhouses of botanical gardens than in private homes. The rice paper plant can be grown as a houseplant if you have plenty of space (it can easily reach 20 feet/7 m in height and 6 feet/2 m in diameter!) and excellent atmospheric humidity. The leaves vaguely recall those of a close relative, the schefflera ( Schefflera actinophylla) and indeed both belong to the Araliaceae or aralia family, but are even more like those of the castor bean plant ( Ricinus communis), which is in no way related and belongs to an entirely different family, the Euphorbiaceae. The rice paper plant is a very striking plant because of its huge palmately-lobed leaves that measure from 1 to 2 feet in diameter (up to 3 feet in the case of the cultivar ‘Steroidal Giant’!). Rice paper plant ( Tetrapanax papyrifer). Knowing nothing about the paper other than that it came from China, where rice is the main cereral grain, Europeans assumed that it was made from rice and began calling it rice paper.īy the time the actual origin of the plant became known, it was too late to change common usage and its paper is still called rice paper to this day, although specialists distinguish it from other rice papers by calling it pith paper, since it is made from the pith found inside the branches of the plant. They quickly became very popular as home decorations. What happened is that, in the late 19 th and early 20 th century, paintings began arriving in Europe from China that were painted on an unknown paper. It certainly looks nothing like true rice ( Oryza sativa), which is a grass. Its botanical name is Tetrapanax papyrifer and it’s a tall, unbranching shrub or small tree. Yes, there is a plant known as the rice paper plant. The Rice Paper Plant 19th century painting on “rice paper”. Surprise! The rectangles of translucent white paper frequently used in origami, calligraphy, painting and other handicrafts and sold in art material stores under the name “rice paper” are not made of rice at all, but are rather derived from one of two shrubs. The old lady put $10 in her purse and asked the teller to deposit $2,990 back into her account.ĭon’t be difficult with old people, they spent a lifetime learning the skill.Yes, it’s called rice paper, but it contains not a smidgen of rice. “Well please let me have $3000 now.” The teller kindly handed $3000 very friendly and with a smile to her. The teller told her any amount up to $3000. The old lady then asked how much she could withdraw immediately. Could you make an appointment and come back again tomorrow? She nodded her head, leaned down and respectfully told her “you have $1,300,000 in your account but the bank doesn’t have that much cash currently. The old lady remained silent for a few seconds and handed her card back to the teller and said “please help me withdraw all the money I have.” The teller was astonished when she checked the account balance. There is a line of customers behind you”. The teller returned her bank card and irritably told her “these are the rules, please leave if there is no further matter. The teller told her “for withdrawals less than $100, please use the ATM. This old lady handed her bank card to the teller and said “I would like to withdraw $10”.
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