Papyrus

Overview

Papyrus is native to central Africa and the Nile Valley, and has been introduced, often as an ornamental species, to other warm parts of the world. The plant has been utilized by humans for over 4,000 years, having been used by the ancient Egyptians for making a kind of paper. It is often cultivated as an ornamental in tropical and warm temperate areas of the world. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Vernacular Names

Papiro del Nilo (Spanish), Jonc du Nil (French), Bardi (Arabic), Tjufy (Egypt), Papyrusstaude (German), Papiro (Italian).

Agroecology

Papyrus is a plant of the subtropics to the tropics. It can tolerate a mean annual precipitation in the range 100 - 4,200 mm, and a mean annual temperatures of 20 - 30 °C. Succeeds in full sun and in partial shade. Prefers a fertile, wet soil, or shallow water up to 30 cm deep. The plant can tolerate a pH in the range 6.0 - 8.5.

Morphology

• Rhizomes - 2–6 cm thick, densely covered with black scales 5–10 cm × 5–10 cm.
• Stems - up to 5(–9) m tall, trigonous, green.
• Leaves - 3 vertical ranks, bladeless, except for sterile shoots; sheath 30–45 cm × 2–5 mm, the lowest ones much shorter.
• Flowers - bisexual; stamens 3; ovary superior, stigmas 3. inflorescence branches 50–360 per stem, unequal, 5–40 cm × 1–1.5 mm, green, each with a simple umbel of 2–5 spikes; secondary bracts filiform, 4–12 cm long, green; spikes 15–30 mm × 6–12 mm, with 12–40 spreading spikelets. Spikelet cylindrical to slightly compressed, 3–12 mm × 0.5–1.5 mm, 5–17-flowered; glumes distichous, ovate, 1.5–2.5 mm long, pale brown with green midvein, the lower ones empty.
• Fruits - an ovate, trigonous nutlet c. 1 mm × 0.5 mm, grey, almost smooth.

Cultivation

Propagated by division of woody rhizomes at base of clumps.

Chemical Constituents

Alkaloids tyramine, octopamine, essential oils (caryophyllene oxide, cyperene, 1,8-cineole, humulene epoxide II, aristolene, and aromadendrene epoxide II).

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• The main use seems to have been confined to burnt papyrus sheets, the ash of which was reputed to have the action of pulverised charcoal and was used in the treatment of certain eye diseases
• The ash was also said to check malignant ulcers from spreading in the mouth or elsewhere.
• It was also said that, if macerated in vinegar and then burnt, the ash would heal wounds.