Cyperus papyrus L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Island 2, Katombora, Zambezi

Sioma, Ngonye Falls
Oct 2013
Photo: Mike Bingham

Kasanka, Fibwe
Nov 1998
Photo: Mike Bingham

Musola stream at Fibwe, Kasanka National Park
Jul 2013
Photo: K.J. Murphy

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from Chironde Camp to Mungari Airstrip, Coutada 12

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mukolo Camp, Kavango River

Photo: Petra Ballings
Backwater Kwando River

Photo: Bart Wursten
Backwater Kwando River

Photo: Mark Hyde
Kuimba Shiri Bird Park, Lake Chivero

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names:	Papyrus (English)
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Very robust perennial sedge, growing from a stout creeping rhizome. Stems triangular to rounded, up to 4 m. Inflorescence "mop-like" with numerous clusters of spikelets.
Type location:
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Nov - Mar
Worldwide distribution:	Throughout Africa and the Mediterranean region
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Fowler, D.G. (2007). Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses, Kew Publishing Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 538. (Includes a picture). Hoenselaar, K., Verdcourt, B. & Beentje, H.J. (2010). Cyperaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 209 - 210. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 88. Maquet, P. (1988). Cyperaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume IV Page 447. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 96. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 58. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 119. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 25. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 182.

Other sources of information about Cyperus papyrus:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Cyperus papyrus
Flora of Caprivi: Cyperus papyrus
Flora of Malawi: Cyperus papyrus
Flora of Mozambique: Cyperus papyrus
Flora of Rwanda: Cyperus papyrus
Flora of Zambia: Cyperus papyrus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Cyperus papyrus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Cyperus papyrus
African Plant Database: Cyperus papyrus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Cyperus papyrus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Cyperus papyrus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Cyperus papyrus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Cyperus papyrus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Cyperus papyrus
JSTOR Plant Science: Cyperus papyrus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Cyperus papyrus
Plants of the World Online: Cyperus papyrus
Tropicos: Cyperus papyrus
Wikipedia: Cyperus papyrus