Cyperus papyrus

Lore & Background

In Ancient Egypt, papyrus was used for baskets, sandals, blankets, medicine, incense, and boats. The woody root was made into bowls and utensils and burned for fuel. The Papyrus Ebers refers to the use of soft papyrus tampons by Egyptian women in the 15th century BC. Egyptians made efficient use of all parts of the plant, calling it aaru, and it was an important 'gift of the Nile' still preserved in Egyptian culture. The plant is depicted on a restored stucco fragment from the palace of Amenhotep III near Malkata. Currently, only a small population remains in Egypt, in Wadi El Natrun. Theophrastus's History of Plants states it grew in Syria, and Pliny's Natural History says it was native to the Niger River and the Euphrates. Neither the explorer Peter Forsskål in the 18th century nor the Napoleonic expedition saw it in the delta.

Reader's Guide

Cyperus papyrus is a C4 sedge that forms highly productive monotypic stands over large areas of wetland in Africa, found in tropical rain forests and permanent swamps in savanna areas. It grows in full sun to partly shady conditions, in waterlogged soil and water up to 2 m deep, and is sensitive to frost. In deeper swamps (1–2 m), it is the chief constituent of floating tangled masses known as sudd, and in places like Bangweulu it forms floating islands used by fishermen and as refuges for antelope and birds. Its 'feather-duster' flowering heads make ideal nesting sites for many social bird species. Pollination is by wind, and mature fruit are distributed by water. The plant is relatively easy to grow from seed, though in Egypt it is more common to split the rootstock. It is considered hardy in USDA zones 9 and 10. In the United States, it has become invasive in Florida and has escaped cultivation in Louisiana, California, and Hawaii. The species and the dwarf cultivar 'Nanus' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017).

Did You Know?

• Papyrus can grow up to 10 metres (33 ft) tall on the margins of high altitude lakes.
• The plant's flowering heads resemble feather dusters and provide nesting sites for many social bird species.
• The adventurer Thor Heyerdahl had a boat built of papyrus, named Ra, in an attempt to demonstrate ancient transatlantic travel.