Papyrus hunting in Egypt - return to the hyper-saline lakes of Wadi Natroun, 22 July 2016
Return to Wadi Natroun
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Papyrus hunting in Egypt – a chance to review some herbarium material. 20-21 July 2016
A day was spent working on specimens from the University of Cairo, cataloging, measuring and contemplating ...
The Papyrus material in University of Cairo (CAI) was cataloged, and for the most interesting specimens, morphometrically measured.
Working on some herbarium specimens ...
Papyrus hunting in Egypt - Papyrus in action! 19 July 2016
While collecting along the Nile from Damietta to Cairo, from apparently native populations of the species, we stopped off at a waste water treatment station, situated near the village of Samaha, Dakahlia. This is an example of a full scale, sub-surface, horizontal flow, constructed wetland, domestic waste water treatment facility, using predominantly Papyrus … and it's fully operational!
Papyrus hunting in Egypt – ramming speed on the Nile, 19 July 2016
Papyrus, extinct in Egypt?
Papyrus hunting in Egypt - a brief visit to the developing Herbarium of the Cairo Agricultural Research Station, 18 July 2016
This is a remarkably interesting establishment, in the center of Cairo, with huge fields of crops being grown for their genetic potential, and a welter of ongoing research. It was a place abuzz with activity.
My short visit was to the Herbarium, which is small but immaculately appointed, and focuses on wild relatives of Egyptian plants.
Papyrus hunting in Egypt - well protected in Orman Botanic Gardens, 18 July 2016
Orman Botanic Gardens is the main Botanic Garden of Cairo. And it has an accession of Papyrus comprising three large, separate stands, probably just a single plant each. The accession was collected from somewhere in the Nile Valley in the 1960's and grown by Mohammed Drar. Hen e its provenance is a little mysterious. Samples were taken from one plant.
Papyrus hunting in Egypt - the jewel in the crown, 18 July 2016
Herb. Univ. Kahirensis (University of Cairo Herbarium) 18 July 2016
This herbarium was established by a Swedish botanist, Vivi Täckholm, who worked extensively in Egypt and with Mohammed Drar produced an early Flora of Egypt. Reminders of the esteem given to her enormous contribution to Egyptian botany are everywhere.
Papyrus hunting in Egypt - first find the lake! 16 July 2016
Searching for Lakes in Wadi Natroun
Papyrus hunting in Israel - it's warm in Jaffa and Jerusalem, 11-13 July 2016
Beautifully presented, and warm and welcoming, the Herbarium of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has a good collection of Israeli Papyrus and is the most important Herbarium in Israel. Collections previously held in Tel Aviv were transferred here. I was interested to see if it held material from elsewhere in the Middle East, there are occasional records in the literature suggesting Papyrus grew in Syria, but of course many of these refer to areas on the eastern banks of the Jordan River. None held, which is in itself informative.
Papyrus hunting in Egypt - Teeming and steaming, Cairo 14 and 15 July 2016
14 July
The 14th was a day for acclimatisation to the hot, humid climate, the teeming, crowds of friendly people, contemplating the imminence of the work approaching with the speed of the rush hour traffic of downtown Cairo, and for quiet preparation and contemplation, for example establishing ‘phone and text connections to local collaborators and arranging meetings and programmes for the work in Egypt, and catching up on reports and paperwork.