A variety of flax, this plant reaches about four meters height in only half a year. Planted in March, it flowers around October, putting out lovely white blossoms resembling hibiscus. The bark and inner stem are used to make pulp. As yet, only a little is grown in Japan, but it is widely cultivated in China, Thailand, and elsewhere. Japan is importing this as semiprocessed pulp. Replacing trees once they are cut down takes a long time. In warm climates it takes 30 to 40 years for newly planted trees to become harvestable, and in northern regions, 100 years is needed. Even trees that mature rapidly, such as eucalyptus, take about a decade. Cultivating kenaf instead would facilitate stable, annual replenishment of a pulp source. Growing kenaf would reduce cutting down forests, which absorb carbon dioxide and prevent global warming. What is more, kenaf absorbs 1.3 times more carbon dioxide than ordinary trees. Thus, planting kenaf would be killing two birds with one stone. Kenaf calling cards are already available, and a growing number of corporations and government offices are switching from recycled paper calling cards to kenaf. Kenaf paper is also coming into the home in items like trash bags, tissues, and drawing paper