Broussonetia is a genus of trees in the family Moraceae (order Rosales), comprising four accepted species plus one natural hybrid, all native to eastern Asia. The genus is best known for its exceptionally high-cellulose bark fibers — more than 90% cellulose — which have been central to papermaking and textile traditions across East and Southeast Asia for centuries.
The most widely recognised member is the paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), whose inner bark has been used to produce traditional paper in China, Korea, and Japan, and to weave barkcloth (tapa) across Austronesian cultures throughout the Pacific. Contrary to common assumption, however, the dominant fiber source for the finest East Asian papers is the natural hybrid Broussonetia × kazinoki — a cross between B. monoica and B. papyrifera — which provides the primary raw material for both hanji (Korean paper) and washi (Japanese paper). B. monoica ranges from the Eastern Himalayas through southern China, Vietnam, and Taiwan to the Ryukyu Islands, while B. kaempferi is restricted to south-central and southern Japan.
Broussonetia papyrifera has been widely introduced beyond its native range and is considered invasive in parts of Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific. The genus is named after the French naturist Pierre Marie Auguste Broussonet (1761–1807).
Etymology
The genus name Broussonetia honours Pierre Marie Auguste Broussonet (1761–1807), a French naturist and botanist. The name was applied in recognition of his contributions to natural history.
Distribution
The genus is native to eastern Asia, with individual species ranging across the Indian subcontinent, Indochina, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, Hainan, and Vietnam. Broussonetia papyrifera has been widely introduced outside this range and has become naturalised or invasive in several regions.
Cultural Uses
Broussonetia species have been integral to East and Southeast Asian material culture for millennia. The bark fiber of B. papyrifera is the basis of traditional paper in China, Korea, and Japan, and of barkcloth in Austronesian societies across the Pacific. The hybrid B. × kazinoki is the principal fiber source for hanji (Korean handmade paper) and washi (Japanese handmade paper), both of which carry UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage recognition.
