Daphne papyracea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Genus: Daphne
Species:
D. papyracea
Binomial name
Daphne papyracea
Wall. ex G.Don[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Daphne cannabina Wall., nom. illeg.
  • Daphne cavaleriei H.Lév.
  • Daphne eriocephala Royle
  • Daphne laciniata Lecomte
  • Daphne mairei H.Lév.

Daphne papyracea is a shrub, of the family Thymelaeaceae. It is evergreen, and is found across Asia, from Pakistan through central Nepal to China. Generally it is found at elevations from 700 to 3,100 metres (2,300 to 10,200 ft).[2] Daphne laciniata from Yunnan has been treated as a separate species[3] or as part of D. papyracea.[1]

Description

The shrub grows to be up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) tall.

Subspecies and varieties

As of November 2017, The Plant List accepts the following infrataxa:[1]

The Flora of China recognizes these as separate species. They were reduced to infrataxa of Daphne papyracea by Josef Halda in 1997[4] and 2000.[5]

Daphne papyracea subsp. jinyunensis is distinguished from subsp. papyracea by its dark, very finely hairy branches, inflorescences with few flowers and very small bracteoles. Its flowers are 6–8 mm long and 3–4 mm across. It is native to Chongqing in Sichuan, China, where it is found in open forests on rocky slopes.[4][6]

Daphne papyracea subsp. yunnanensis is distinguished from subsp. papyracea by the shape of its leaves which usually have tips that are pointed to heart-shaped (acuminate-caudate) and the shape of the disk which is almost divided into four parts, having two bifid lobes. It is native to south-west Yunnan, where it occurs in montane forests.[4][7]

Daphne papyracea var. longituba is a variety of D. papyracea subsp. papyracea. It differs in the length of the flowers, which are 10–14 mm long. It is found in forests and valleys at 1000–1200 m in north-east Guangxi, China.[4][8]

Daphne papyracea var. xichouensis has reddish-white flowers and is found at 1500–1800 m on moist shrubby slopes in south-east Yunnan, China.[9]

Usage for paper

It is mentioned as a "paper shrub" by an English botanist in 1818.[10] It is known as the main source of raw material for the production of lokta paper, a hand-made paper from Nepal.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Daphne papyracea". The Plant List. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Daphne papyracea - Wall. ex Steud". Plants for a Future. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Daphne laciniata". Flora of China. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d Halda, Josef J. (1997). "Some nomenclatoric changes and new descriptions in the genus Daphne L" (PDF). Acta Musei Richnoviensis Sect. Nat. 4 (2): 67–70. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  5. ^ Halda, Josef J. (2000). "Some nomenclatoric changes and new descriptions in the genus Daphne L: 3". Acta Musei Richnoviensis Sect. Nat. 7 (2): 41–70.
  6. ^ Wang, Yinzheng; Gilbert, Michael G.; Mathew, Brian F.; Brickell, Christopher. "Daphne jinyunensis". Flora of China. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  7. ^ Wang, Yinzheng; Gilbert, Michael G.; Mathew, Brian F.; Brickell, Christopher. "Daphne yunnanensis". Flora of China. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  8. ^ Wang, Yinzheng; Gilbert, Michael G.; Mathew, Brian F.; Brickell, Christopher. "Daphne longituba". Flora of China. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  9. ^ Wang, Yinzheng; Gilbert, Michael G.; Mathew, Brian F.; Brickell, Christopher. "Daphne xichouensis". Flora of China. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  10. ^ Burtt, B L (1936). "A Note on the Himalayan Daphnes". Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew). Springer on behalf of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 1936 (7): 433–441. JSTOR 4111840.
  11. ^ Jeanrenaud, Jean-Paul; Thompson, ian (1986). "Daphne (Lokta), bark biomass production management implications for paper making in Nepal". The Commonwealth Forestry Review. Commonwealth Forestry Association. 65 (2): 117–130. JSTOR 42608067.
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