Cultivation regions of ancient plants used in papermaking in Iran

Reports growing areas of growing and/or planting flax, hemp, kenaf and cotton that supplied fibers for papermaking in the middle Ages.

  Data was collected from library resources, and archival documents.

Flax, hemp, kenaf and cotton were planted since the ancient times in Iran to support industries such as textile and flax trade. Cotton in Fars, flax in southwest of lands and in the mountainous Kohkilouyeh region, Darband, Hemp in Lorestan, Kazeroun and Shiraz, Kenaf plant in Golestan (Gorgan), Mazandaran, and Gilan were cultivated. Therefore, paper makers not only had access to raw fiber plants, but could also use them in raw form, processed strings, or worn plant clothes to make paper.