Cyperus papyrus

Papyrus sedge, also known as Bulrush or Paper reed (Cyperus papyrus) is a monocot belonging to the sedge family Cyperaceae. It is a herbaceous perennial native to Africa.

Related Topics:
Monocot - Sedge - Cyperaceae - Herb - Perennial - Africa

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This tall, robust, leafless aquatic can grow 4-5 m high. It features a grass-like clump of triangular green stems that rise up from thick, woody rhizomes. Each stem is topped by a dense cluster of thin, bright green, thread-like rays around 10-30 cm in length. This cluster resembles a feather duster when the plant is young. Greenish-brown flower clusters appear at the ends of the rays. The flowers give way to brown, nut-like fruits.

Related Topics:
Rhizome - Flower - Fruit

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The younger parts of the rhizome are covered by red-brown, papery, triangular scales, which also cover the base of the culms and represent reduced leaves. It is therefore untrue to call this plant "leafless".

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Papyrus is estimated to range from subtropical to tropical desert to wet forests, tolerating annual temperatures of 20-30°C and pH of 6.0 - 8.5. Papyrus flowers in late summer, and prefers full sun to partly-shady conditions. Like most tropical plants, it is sensitive to frost.

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The papyrus sedges form vast stands in swamps, shallow lakes, and along stream banks throughout the wetter parts of Africa, but has become rare in the Nile Delta. In deeper waters it is the chief constituent of the floating, tangled masses of vegetation known as sudd. It also occurs also in Madagascar, and some Mediterranean regions such as Sicily and the Levant.

Related Topics:
Nile Delta - Madagascar - Mediterranean - Sicily - Levant

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The 'feather-duster' flowering heads make ideal nesting sites for many social species of birds. As in most sedges, pollination is effected by wind, not insects, and the mature fruits after release are distributed by water.

Related Topics:
Bird - Pollination - Insect

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Today, papyrus is mainly cultivated as an aquatic ornamental plant. A dwarf relative of this plant, designated as C. nanus or C. profiler, typically grows to only 1 m tall.

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