Editing Cyperus papyrus (section)

{{short description|Species of flowering plant in the sedge family Cyperaceae}}
{{speciesbox
| name = 
| image = Cyperus papyrus6.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{Cite iucn|title=Papyrus Sedge ''Cyperus papyrus''|page=e.T164158A120152171|last=Beentje, H.J. & Lansdown, R.V.|year=2018|access-date=22 March 2022|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T164158A120152171.en}}</ref>
| genus = Cyperus
| species = papyrus
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]|

| range_map = Cyperus papyrus map.svg
}}

'''''Cyperus papyrus''''', better known by the common names '''papyrus''',<ref name="RHSPF" /> '''papyrus sedge''', '''paper reed''', '''Indian matting plant''', or '''Nile grass''', is a species of [[aquatic plant|aquatic]] [[flowering plant]] belonging to the sedge family [[Cyperaceae]]. It is a [[Hardiness (plants)|tender]] herbaceous [[perennial]], forming tall stands of reed-like swamp vegetation in shallow water.

In nature, it grows in full sun, in flooded swamps, and on lake margins throughout Africa (where it is native),<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Cyperus papyrus - Plant Finder |url=http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a637 |access-date=2021-02-20 |website=www.missouribotanicalgarden.org}}</ref> [[Madagascar]], and the [[Mediterranean region]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Cyperus papyrus |url=http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/cyperuspap.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424004722/http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/cyperuspap.htm |archive-date=2017-04-24 |access-date=2015-03-12 |work=PlantZAfrica.com}}</ref> It has been introduced to tropical regions worldwide, such as the Indian subcontinent, South America, and the Caribbean.

Along with its close relatives, papyrus sedge has a very long history of use by humans, notably by the [[Ancient Egypt]]ians (as it is the source of [[papyrus]] paper, one of the first types of paper ever made).<ref name=":0" /> Parts of the plant can be eaten, and the highly buoyant stems can be made into boats. It is now often cultivated as an [[ornamental plant]].