Edgeworthia gardneri

Edgeworthia gardneri (common names: Indian papertree, Nepalese paperbush; Nepali: लोकता, लोक्ता, अर्गेली (Argelee, argeli)) is a plant in the Thymelaeaceae family. It is a small evergreen shrub growing up to 3 – tall. It can be distinguished by its brownish red stem. The flowers are hermaphrodite (they have both male and female organs).

Range and habitat
Edgeworthia gardneri is native to the Himalayan regions of Bhutan; northern Burma; China (in eastern Xizang and northwestern Yunnan provinces); India; and Nepal. It is found in forests and moist places at altitudes of 1000 - 2500 m.

It is cultivated elsewhere.

Uses
Edgeworthia gardneri is planted as an ornamental; and a high quality paper is made from its bark fibres. This species is said to be the best of the various species that are used to make hand-made paper in the Himalayas.

As of 2024, Nepal, in particular the Ilam District, was exporting several tens of tonnes per year of the bark to Japan for the printing of Japanese yen banknotes as an alternative to the native Japanese mitsumata, another species in the same genus.