A natural product from corn, potatoes, tapioca, etc., and used for dry strength. Cationic starch is added at the paper machine wet end.Starch is a free flowing white powder. Typically, starch used in the paper industry is extracted from maize kernels, wheat or potatoes; in rare cases, tapioca or rice can be the source. Starches from the different plants each have a characteristic granule size and shape.Potato starch is often referred to as farina, and maize starch is sometimes called corn. Native starch is sometimes called pearl starch.