Tetrapanax papyrifer (Tung-tsau or Rice-paper Plant) is an evergreen shrub in the family Araliaceae, the sole species in the genus Tetrapanax. It is endemic to Taiwan, but also widely cultivated elsewhere in eastern Asia. It grows to 3-7 m tall, with usually unbranched stems 2 cm diameter bearing a rosette of large leaves at the top (superficially similar to a palm crown). The leaves are carried on 40-60 cm petioles, the leaf blade orbicular, 30-50 cm across, deeply palmately lobed with 5-11 primary lobes, each lobe usually secondarily lobulate. It spreads extensively by sprouts from the root system underground.
The flowers are produced in a large umbel at the apex of the stem, each flower with 4-5 small white petals. The fruit is a small drupe.
Study links nicotine with breast cancer growth and spread Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 (American Association for Cancer Research) A study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, suggests a possible role for nicotine in breast tumor development and metastases. Innovations in Pediatric Medicine CME conference brings together national pediatrics experts Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 (New York- Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center) In the last decade, biomedical and research breakthroughs, notably in genetics and stem cells, have helped transform the care of children, improving diagnosis and treatment for numerous diseases. On Nov. 8-9, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center will host a conference at the Grand Hyatt New York, titled "Innovations in Pediatric Medicine," to exchange the latest advances in genetics, stem cell therapy, and childhood disease treatment. Penn State receives new NASA astrobiology grant Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400 (Penn State) Developing strategies for finding life on other planets and in extreme environments on Earth will be the focus of Penn State's new astrobiology initiative under a five-year grant from NASA's Astrobiology Institute for "Signatures of Life from Earth and Beyond."