Editing Cyperus papyrus (section)

==Description==
[[Image:kew.gardens.papyrus.plant.arp.jpg|thumb|upright|Papyrus plant (''Cyperus papyrus'') at [[Kew Gardens]], London]]
This tall, robust [[aquatic plant]] can grow {{Convert|4|to|5|m}} high,<ref name=FloraBase>{{FloraBase|name=''Cyperus papyrus''|id=18198}}</ref> but on the margins of high altitude lakes such as [[Lake Naivasha]] in Kenya and [[Lake Tana]] in Ethiopia, at altitudes around {{Convert|6000|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} the papyrus [[Glossary of botanical terms#culm|culms]] can measure up to {{Convert|9|m|ft|abbr=on|frac=2}} in length, with an additional {{Convert|18|in|cm|abbr=out|order=flip}} for the inflorescence (a&nbsp;spicate [[umbel]]; i.e. each of the up to one thousand rays of the umbel terminates in a spike of small flowers) for a total height of {{Convert|31|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<ref>Correspondence with Keith Thompson of the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Thompson |first=Keith |display-authors=etal |date=June 1979 |title=Papyrus Swamp Development in the Upemba Basin, Zaire...etc |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=78 |issue=4 |page=300 }}</ref> Each culm is a single {{nowrap|internode{{px2}}{{mdash}}{{px2}}}}the longest known of any plant. At Lake Naivasha, the culms, triangular in cross-section, were as much as {{Convert|7|in|cm|abbr=on|order=flip}} on a side in width.<ref>Thompson, corresp. loc. cit,</ref> It forms a grass-like clump of triangular green stems that rise up from thick, woody [[rhizome]]s. Each stem is topped by a dense cluster of thin, bright green, thread-like rays around {{Convert|10|to|30|cm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} in length, resembling a feather duster when the plant is young. Greenish-brown [[flower]] clusters eventually appear at the ends of the rays, giving way to brown, nut-like [[fruit]]s.<ref name=":0" />

Although no [[leaves]] are apparent above the soil line, the younger parts of the [[rhizome]] are covered by red-brown, papery, triangular scales, which also cover the base of the culms. Technically, these are reduced leaves, so strictly it is not quite correct to call this plant fully "leafless".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=''Cyperus papyrus'' (Egyptian Paper Reed, Giant Papyrus, Paper Reed, Papyrus) {{!}} North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox|url=https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cyperus-papyrus/|access-date=2021-02-20|website=plants.ces.ncsu.edu}}</ref>