About Edgeworthia chrysantha Lindl.
Edgeworthia chrysantha Lindl. is a deciduous shrub. It has dark green, leathery, simple alternate lanceolate leaves that are 7.6–12.7 cm (3–5 in) long. Mature shrubs reach a height of 1.2–1.8 m (4–6 ft). Its yellow, sweet-scented flowers grow in clusters at the tips of branches, and its flowering season runs from February to April. This species is native to Myanmar, as well as south-central and southeast China, and is naturalized in Japan. It naturally grows in forests and shrubby slopes. Bark fibres from this plant are used to make a handmade Japanese tissue called "mitsumata paper". Along with paper mulberry (kōzo) and gampi, the plant is used to produce traditional Japanese paper, known as washi. One common use of mitsumata paper is in banknote production, because the material is very durable. In China, the flowers, roots and bark of this species are used in traditional medicine. In Korea, handmade paper produced from this plant is called "hanji", or Korean paper.
