Қамыстың қағаз түйіні (Cyperus papyrus)

Species of flowering plant in the sedge family Cyperaceae

Cyperus papyrus, better known by the common names papyrus, and forms tall stands of reed like swamp vegetation in shallow water. Papyrus sedge (and its close relatives) has a very long history of use by humans, notably by the Ancient Egyptians (as it is the source of papyrus paper, one of the first types of paper ever made). It has been introduced outside its range to tropical regions worldwide (such as the Indian subcontinent, South America, and the Caribbean).

This tall, robust aquatic plant can grow high, but on the margins of high altitude lakes such as Lake Naivasha in Kenya and Lake Tana in Ethiopia, at altitudes around 6000 feet (1829 m) the papyrus culms can measure up to 29.5 feet (9 m) in length, with an additional for the inflorescence (a 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 31 feet (9 m). Each culm is a single the longest known of any plant. At Lake Naivasha, the culms, triangular in cross section, were as much as on a side in width. It forms a grass like clump of triangular green stems that rise up from thick, woody rhizomes. Each stem is topped by a dense cluster of thin, bright green, thread like rays around 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 fruits.

In Ancient Egypt, papyrus was used for various of purposes such as baskets, sandals, blankets, medicine, incense, and boats. The woody root was used to make bowls and utensils, and was burned for fuel. The Papyrus Ebers refers to the use of soft papyrus tampons by Egyptian women in the 15th century BCE. Egyptians made efficient use of all parts of the plant. Papyrus was an important "gift of the Nile" which is still preserved and perpetuated in Egyptian culture.