Distributions

Distributions

The primary sources for distribution information for the subspecies are the specimen lists cited by Kükenthal (1935), in which he also names countries, and both inter- and intra-country regions.  More recent distributions, including Boulos, 2005, and Terer et al., 2012 provide information for C. papyrus L. sensu lato, but lack resolution of the locations of subspecies, so add little, except for indications about where it may or may not be native.  

It is very likely that the maps shown here give an incomplete distribution.  Putting aside where it has been long known but claims of being native are disputed, notably Egypt, Sicily and Israel, even in this small sample of specimens it can be seen that some collector’s localities lie outside Kükenthal’s given range.  There are specimens from South Africa, for example, notably in the St. Lucia Wetlands Park, at latitudes between 27° and 28° S., and claims that it is native in eastern South Africa (Germishuizen & Meyer 2003), considerably south of Kükenthal’s 26°S limit.  It is also widely reported in Namibia, and Botswana (e.g. Simmons et al. 1999, Germishuizen & Meyer 2003).   There are a number of countries adjacent or in the vicinity of collections likely to have suitable habitat for Papyrus, and perusal of Kew’s Herbarium material supports the likelihood that it occurs elsewhere.

Kükenthal (1935) stated that C. papyrus sensu lato has a centre of origin in the area of the While Nile (Sudan) from where it spread west through central Africa and south to Madagascar and Zimbabwe.  He concludes 13° N as the Northern limit of its natural latitudinal range, and 26° S as the Southern.  He therefore considers it introduced to Europe, including Sicily, and elsewhere, notably Egypt, sometime in antiquity, and for the purpose of paper making.  This casts doubt on the emphasis Chiovenda and others have placed upon the Italian material of Papyrus and the belief that it represented one if not two distinct taxa.  Terer et al. (2012) place it at latitudes between 17° N and 29° S, shifting its whole range notably southwards, citing previous sources.  They, again on other sources, include the Hula (Huleh) Valley in Israel as a native occurrence, but not European localities including Sicily and Malta.

Chrytek & Slavíková  (1977) concluded from the isolation of Wadi Natroun (Natrun) and the morphological separation of the collection, that Hadidi’s plants found in 1968 in northern Egypt were native.   The most recent Flora of Egypt (Boulos, 2005) considers it native in tropical Africa, and cites it as growing at Damietta on the Nile in Northern Egypt, as well as in Wadi Natrun.  Flora Palaestina (Feinbrun-Dothan, 1981) is inconclusive about the status of either the Egyptian or Palestinian plants, but notes that birds may be a possible cause of its introduction, and Birdlife International (2013) list Wadi Natrun as having moderate importance for migratory birds.   Given the contradictory views, in these maps it is treated as native in Egypt.

It is not here treated as a native in Botswana, despite the views of the authors described above, as this is outside of Kükenthal’s range, furthermore, it has been stated that it may have been introduced to the Okavango Delta early in the twentieth century for the purpose of paper making, Heath & Heath (2009), and it is their collection that is included in this study.

It is widespread as an introduction including in Hawaii, Florida, India (Gujarat, Rajasthan), Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, and Taiwan, Province of China.  (Kumar 2011, Terer et al., 2012).


Map Assumptions

Kükenthal’s information is in German and uses very dated country and sub-country region and locality names, therefore, a number of assumptions have been made in interpreting it, based on Geonames (Wick & Vatant 2013).

The assumptions are listed below.  Interpretation of the place names used by Kükenthal  (N.B. diacriticals are omitted).   

Kukenthal (1935)

Interpretation

Palastina

Modern day Israel

Nordost-Rhodesia

Part of Zambia

Nodwest-Rhodesia

Part of Zambia

Nyassaland

Malawi

Gallahochland

In Ethiopia

Westwards bis zum Tschadsee

Chad

Franzos. Kongo

Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic

Belgian Congo

DR Congo

Kongo

DR Congo

Dahomey

Benin

Elfenbeinkuste

Côte d’Ivoire

Franzos. Guinea

Guinea

Delagoabay

In Mozambique

Loango

In Gabon

Mt. Lumbala

In Zaire


Distribution Maps

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith