In Nepal, with an 8,000' elevation, it is the daphne shrub. In the Philippines they use the salago shrub. In India, cotton is the fiber of choice. Linen from the flax plant thrives in northern Europe. In the U.S. both cotton and various wood pulps are used for papermaking.
Paper is made by gathering the plant of choice, and beating it into a pulp.
Water is then added, until the pulp becomes a slurry. The slurry is then sifted against a screen until it forms an even layer. Once it dries, a sheet of paper is formed. There are three basic ways paper is made. Originally all paper was made by hand, a slow and tedious process yielding unique and beautiful sheets.