Papyrus spreads both clonally, when conditions are suitable. So that around many of the big lakes in central and eastern Africa it forms huge stands growing from short rhizomes. In places whole areas of Papyrus can break away, and float off across the lake. These Papyrus "islands" have been given a name - Sudds - and the Sudd region which is a vast marshland down from the source of the White Nile, is famous for them. They can often block the entrances to waterways, carried there by the prevailing currents. Papyrus can also establish in bare mud, where seedlings can be prolific, these show more genetic diversity then the clonal, rhizome growth.
It is one of the goals of the project to seek and help by collection to preserve, the widest possible genetic variation in the samples. This entails collection from as many diversely distributed populations as can be found and will support collection without harm to their continuity. Small populations along a river or lake bank, even if spread over many meters, may possibly represent rhizome growth and therefore be clonal, this study will help to establish if this is the case.
River Einan
In the hills of Upper Galilee a spring arises which flows eastwards, down into the Hula Valley. Papyrus has long been known to grow in small quantity in the stretch where it first levels out and enters the valley.
The Papyrus at this site could barely be seen from the parallel running dust track, down amongst the tall Phragmites reeds fringing the stream along which it was growing. It was difficult to assess the size of the population, but no more than 50 plants were apparent, however, others may have been present. This was a difficult site to access, it took over an hour to hack through dense brambles, reeds and scrub in knee deep mud to reach open water and the Papyrus. The banks of the river sloped steeply down, about 3 M to the water-level, hence the Papyrus, which exceeded 2.5m in height, was hidden by the reeds. In the open water, rooted in deep silty mud, it was the most abundant emergent.
There are no records or memory of planting at this site and local experts believe, therefore, that the Papyrus here is a relict of the Hula swamps, and therefore as native as the Hula Valley Nature Reserve population.
4 duplicate samples were collected.
Access to the open water and Papyrus on the river Einan, was cut through tall scrub dominated by brambles and reeds.
Papyrus being collected in open water in the bed of the River Einan, by the author.
Successful collection, being labeled and bagged prior to later pressing.
Dardara
We searched an area where a (now) small, lively spring flows along channels into the River Jordan, it was popular with holiday campers. This is very near to the current border with Syria and was once, being on the former eastern edge of Lake Hula, only accessible by boat.
Today the only sedge present appeared to be the introduced Cyperus alternifolius L., the Papyrus, seen there in recent years, had gone. The site appeared too dry, and the stream too insubstantial to support Papyrus, which is a thirsty, hungry species.
Cyperus alternifolius, growing at Dardara spring, Hula Valley.
River Jordan in the Hula Valley
To the west of the Hula Valley Nature Reserve, while still within the Hula Valley, the River Jordan has been canalised. This was undertaken when the marshes were drained. We searched a long stretch unsuccessfully for the tell-tale mop-heads of Papyrus. However, the habitat was not suitable, since the manufactured banks were steep and the central channel kept clear of clogging vegetation.
So far no Papyrus outside of the Hula, but we kept on looking ...
River Jordan south of the Hula Valley
We walked a short stretch of the same river a little further south, at a site where the river splits, one branch being diverted into a channel to provide hydroelectricity, while the other continues on its original course. Papyrus has previously been recorded growing in this area, however, we couldn’t find it today and the low water levels would not be adequate to support Papyrus.
Jordan River, shortly after a canal removes some of the flow for a hydroelectricity project. The exposed bed can be seen. Willows in the background, Lythrum salicaria flowering in the mid-ground, Arundo donax L. and Phragmites australis were also abundant in low lying areas.
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