Cyperus papyrus: From the Nile to Modern Times :: Botany

Cyperus piece plant From the Nile to Modern TimesCyperus papyrus, commonly called papyrus or paper coiffure, is a member of the sedge family (Cyperaceae). It is a monocotyledon that is native to riverbanks and other nettled soil areas in Egypt, Ethiopia, the Jordan River Valley, and other part of the Mediterranean basin (1). Few members of the sedge family hold economic importance as crop plants, but throughout the world these plants hold great regional importance in weaving mats, baskets, screens, and even sandals (3). Though not usually grown for crops sedges do hold economic importance to agriculture. A veritable tote up of sedges are noxious weeds, invading crop fields in all climates of the world. These include species that invade rice paddies, grazing pastures, as substantially as others (3.) Sedges do however have a considerable amount of ecological importance. They are of extreme importance to primary production as well as an integral part of the hydrologic cycle (3 .) C. papyrus is an aquatic plant that has woody, bluntly triangular origins and grows up to about 15 feet in quietly flowing water up to three feet deep and the stem can grow up to six centimeters in width skinny the top (4). While the bottom portion of the stem can be up to six inches in width (7). The stem has scattered vascular bundles and no inner pith, like other typical monocots. The stem is cool of cellular telephoneulose (54-68%) and lignin (24-32%), this helps to provide support for the stem and subsequently helps maintain the plant structure. in that location are also air ducts in the stem to help the plant stay buoyant this is an important adaptation since C. papyrus grows in wet conditions (1). The roots, which are rhizomes, spread over the water, forming floating mat. These mats can close totimes break up apart allowing the plant to colonize new areas in rivers and lakes. This can sometimes cause problems for shipping vessel (1). The leaves of the paper plant ar e presbyopic and sharp-keeled and have parallel veination (7). The leaves also have an epidermis with no long and short cell differentiation. The leaves usually have silica bodies and stomata are present (6.) The leaves are coherent in umbels, or tufts, on the end of tall, leafless stems (1). The economic contributions of C. papyrus may not be evident to moderns, but its importance to some ancient civilizations is tremendous. The ancient Egyptians were using papyrus to make paper more(prenominal) than five thousand years ago to make the first paper (1.