Cyperus papyrus

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 47. 1753.

Common names: Papyrus Egyptian paper-reed
IntroducedIllustrated
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 23. Treatment on page 173. Mentioned on page 147, 167, 174.

Herbs, perennial, rhizomatous, stout. Culms roundly trigonous, 300–500 cm × 15–45 mm, glabrous. Leaves bladeless. Inflorescences: spikes loosely cylindric, 10–20 × 6–10 mm; rays 40–100, drooping or arching, slender, 10–30 cm; 2d order rays 8–20 cm; bracts 4–10, ± erect, V-shaped, 3–8 cm × 4–15 mm; 2d order bracts 2–5, (1.5–)4–16 cm × 0.5–2 mm; rachilla persistent, separating laterally, remaining firmly attached basally, wings 0.3–0.4 mm wide. Spikelets 6–30, slightly compressed, linear, ± quadrangular, 6–10 × 0.8–1 mm; floral scales 6–16, reddish beside 5-ribbed green medial part, white to hyaline near margins, ovate-elliptic, 1.8–2.2 × 1.2–1.5 mm, apex acute to obtuse. Flowers: anthers 0.8–1 mm (connectives prolonged beyond anther as red subulate appendage 0.2–0.5 mm, apex usually setose); styles 0.2–0.4 mm; stigmas 0.8–1.2 mm. Achenes pale brown, sessile, oblong, 0.8–1 × 0.4 mm, apex scarcely apiculate, surfaces puncticulate.


Phenology: Fruiting summer.
Habitat: Stream banks, marshes
Elevation: 0–30 m

Distribution

V23 287-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Fla., s Europe, sw Asia, Africa.

Discussion

Cyperus papyrus is conspicuous in the field by its great height, leafless culm, and open, hemispheric inflorescence with drooping rays.

Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans prepared paper from the pith of the culms of Cyperus papyrus, which is abundant along the Nile River.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Cyperus papyrus"
Gordon C. Tucker* +, Brian G. Marcks* +  and J. Richard Carter * +
Linnaeus +
Papyrus +  and Egyptian paper-reed +
Fla. +, s Europe +, sw Asia +  and Africa. +
0–30 m +
Stream banks, marshes +
Fruiting summer. +
Introduced +  and Illustrated +
Undefined subg. Chlorocyperus +, Cyperus subg. Mariscus +  and Undefined subg. Papyrus +
Cyperus papyrus +
Cyperus subg. Cyperus +
species +