Oriental paper bush; mitsumata
A deciduous shrub (Edgeworthia chrysantha) whose bark is used to make traditional Japanese paper (washi). The name literally means 'three forks', referring to the branching pattern.
The bark of the mitsumata is used as a raw material for Japanese paper.
In spring, the yellow flowers of the mitsumata bloom.
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling, also common.
Kanji form is rare; the plant is almost always written in kana.
The name ミツマタ (mitsumata) literally means 'three forks', referring to the plant's characteristic branching pattern where each branch divides into three.