Papyrus
(from Papuros, and old Greek name, of Egyptian origin, used by Theophrastus). ORD. Cyperaceae. A small genus of sedges, mostly stove aquatic perennials, natives of tropical and warm regions, included, by Bentham and Hooker, under Cyperus. Inflorescence in many-flowered spikelets, surrounded by long bracts; glumes imbricated, in two rows, one-flowered. The only species requiring mention here is P. antiquorum. It is usually cultivated as an aquatic, but may be grown in a pot of rich, heavy loam, if kept standing in a pan or tub of water. For sub-tropical gardening, it is a very useful subject, and is best grown in shallow water, in a warm position. It should be removed indoors early in the month of September. Propagated by divisions of the rhizome.
P. antiquorum (ancient).* Egyptian Paper Reed or Rush. Stems dark green, triangular, jointless, supporting, at the top, an umbel of pendent leaves, which impart a very graceful and striking appearance. h. 10ft. Egypt, 1803. "The pith-like tissues of the larger flowering-stems, cut into thin strips, united together by narrowly-overlapping margins, and then crossed, under pressure, by a similar arrangement of strips at right angles, constituted the papyrus of antiquity" (Oliver). The proper name of this plant is Cyperus Papyrus.