Additional notes (click to expand)
Horticulture
Treated as a tender annual and replaced every year.
Medicinal
Used in Pharaonic medicine as a bandage for stiff limbs and as an eye compress.
Manniche, Lisa. (1989). An Ancient Egyptian Herbal . British Museum Publications Ltd.
'In traditional Islamic medicine the ashes of papyrus matting were applied to open wounds to dry them out, the ashes being also considered beneficial for sores of the mouth, and, mixed with vinegar, to treat nose-bleed.'
Manniche, Lisa. (1989). An Ancient Egyptian Herbal . British Museum Publications Ltd.
Other use
‘Papyrus grew in abundance along the River Nile in ancient times. The plant had multiple uses. The pith was peeled and arranged in sheets, two being beaten together to make writing material. The fibres were woven into sail and cloths and mats, or twisted into ropes, or plaited into sandals. Jar- stoppers and children’s balls of papyrus have been found. The mature stems were tied together and made into boats, or they were used as fire wood. The feathery flowers on their long stems were the ideal base for tall composite bouquets used to decorate temples and tombs, and the stalks were edible. Herodotus tells that the lower extremity of the plant about one cubit of it (about half a meter), was a delicacy particularly when first baked in a glowing hot vessel on the fire (II.92). Theophrastes adds that all the natives 'chew the papyrus raw, boiled or roasted; they swallow the juice and spit out the quid' (IV.8.4).' [A practise also mentioned by Dioscorides].
Manniche, Lisa. (1989). An Ancient Egyptian Herbal . British Museum Publications Ltd.
The Ebers papyrus, one of the oldest medicinal texts dated to about 1550 B C, is written on parchment made of papyrus.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ebers-papyrus
Geographical distribution
- Africa, East Tropical Africa, Kenya
- Africa, East Tropical Africa, Tanzania
- Africa, East Tropical Africa, Uganda
- Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, Chad
- Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, Ethiopia
- Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, Sudan
- Africa, Northern Africa, Egypt
- Africa, South Tropical Africa, Angola
- Africa, South Tropical Africa, Malawi
- Africa, South Tropical Africa, Mozambique
- Africa, South Tropical Africa, Zambia
- Africa, Southern Africa, Botswana
- Africa, Southern Africa, KwaZulu-Natal
- Africa, Southern Africa, Namibia
- Africa, West Tropical Africa, Benin
- Africa, West Tropical Africa, Guinea
- Africa, West Tropical Africa, Ivory Coast
- Africa, West Tropical Africa, Liberia
- Africa, West Tropical Africa, Nigeria
- Africa, West Tropical Africa, Senegal
- Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Burundi
- Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Congo
- Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Gabon
- Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Rwanda
- Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Zaire
- Africa, Western Indian Ocean, Madagascar
- Africa, Western Indian Ocean, Mauritius
- Africa, Western Indian Ocean, Réunion
Cyperus papyrus L.
Family: CYPERACEAEGenus: Cyperus
Species: papyrus L.
Common names: Papyrus
Distribution summary: Africa
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H1b - Heated greenhouse; subtropical
Habitat: Marshes, margins of rivers, ponds and ditches
Garden status: Not currently grown
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use
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