[rahys-pey-per] 
| an Asian shrub or small tree, Tetrapanax papyriferus, of the ginseng family, the pith of which is used in making rice paper. |
| rice-pa·per plant (rīs'pā'pər) n. A Chinese shrub or small tree (Tetrapanax papyriferus) grown as a source of fiber for rice paper. Also called rice-paper tree. |
rice-paper plant
(species Tetrapanax papyriferum), shrub or small tree of the ginseng family (Araliaceae), native to southern China and Taiwan. It is the source of rice paper. It has large, lobed leaves that form an almost palmlike crown. The central tissues of the stem are split and pressed into thin sheets used for surgical dressings and as watercolour paper.
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pər