Papyrus, extinct in Egypt?
Despite its long, long history in the country, it was declared almost extinct in Egypt by Hakuno, 2005, Parkinson & Quirke 1995, Täckholm & Drar, 1950. This was reiterated by Serag (2003) citing the succinctly named traveler Baroness Wolfradine Auguste Louise de Minutoli (born Comptesse von Schulenberg) as the last person to have seen it in 1821-1824, on the Nile at Damietta and around Lake Manzala. Lake Manzala is a vast complex of lakes and brackish lagoons on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, between Damietta and Port Said, great portions of which still survive and are used for a variety of purposes including a lot of fish farming. There has been no systematic survey of this area for Papyrus.
A very small part of the immense Lake Manzala, Egypt. Still seemingly, with habitat potentially capable of supporting Papyrus.
In 2000, two small populations of Papyrus were discovered growing along the Damietta branch of the Nile, by chance, by the ecologist Dr. Mamdouh Serag. Dr. Serag immediately recognised the importance of these populations, given the absence of records of Papyrus in Egypt for such a long time, barring only the independent Wadi Natroun discovery.
Sharabas Village population
The largest population, found by Dr. Serag was at a site on the bank of the Nile near Sharabas Village, about 24km from Damietta, comprised plants attaining 3.5m in height. It is now extinct at this site, because, according to local knowledge, it is believed that local people cut down the plants by machine, in fear of conservation measures that may have been taken to preserve them. Judiciously, Dr. Serag collected samples.
Sharimsha Island population
Sharimsha Island
However, just this year, a PhD student working on a project on a small island in the Nile a few kilometers up-river from Sharabas, about 35km from Damietta in all, found another population, a new record for Egypt. It is believed that this population may have been the source of the one at Sharabas, a clump of the plant may have broken off and floated downstream to Sharabas. Papyrus certainly has a reputation for spreading this way in the major swamps and rivers of sub-Saharan Africa. And, while accessing the collection site, a mound of plant debris was observed, created, apparently by measures taken by the local authorities to maintain clear channels in the river. Clearly, were Papyrus rhizomes included in such clearance, the scope for further colonisation is increased.
The Nile, Sharimsha Island. A mound of vegetation has been created by clearance to free up the river channels.
Very few, but well developed clumps of Papyrus were found here, possibly as few as 6-12 plants in all. Associated species included Saccharum spontaneum L. var. aegyptacum (Willd.) Hack., Phragmites australis, Salix spp., Persicaria tomentosa (Schrank) E.P.Bicknell (=Persicaria lapathifolia (L.) Delarbre), Cyperus dives and Lemna sp. growing in the water amongst the shoots with Myriophyllum spicatum L. and Ceratophyllum spp. in the adjacent river. Many of these are similar associates to those found by Serag at Sharabas.
Papyrus growing to over 3m on Sharimsha Island, and providing a handy roost for some Egrets.
2 separate plants were sampled, with 6 duplicates from one and 4 from the other taken.
The approach to collecting at Sharimsha Island, Damietta, Egypt comprised ramming into the Papyrus which fringed the island as fast as the boat could be rowed. The island was not substantial, at least around its edges, so collection was of necessity undertaken from the front of the boat.
Samples collected at Sharimsha Island, Damietta, Egypt
Dahtora village population
Dr. Serag’s second population, found in 2000, was on the western bank of the Nile at Dahtora about 1km from Zifta. This population which was reportedly small in size and of weak growth, notably growing with species which are more commonly associated with drier habitats, compared to the emergent aquatic conditions favoured by Papyrus. The precise location of this population was not known, and therefore it was not located on this survey. Again, Dr. Serag collected samples.
Sandabast Island Population
Just South of Zifta, another population was known to Professor Khedra, of Damietta University. Again, occurring on a small island in the Nile. This population appeared to be spread over several hundred meters, but to comprise just a thin fringing line of vegetation along the muddy bank of the island. Access was easy, since the island itself was solid and indeed several crops were being grown there, including Brassica sp., Musa, Capsicum annuum, Zea mais and Olea europaea. Saccharum spontaneum var. aegyptacum was also abundant. While returning, Papyrus was spotted on an adjacent island.
Sandabast Island, near Zifta, Egypt
Collecting samples on the cultivated island of Sandablast, with considerable enthusiastic assistance from local people.
Crops growing at Sandabast Island, near Zifta, Egypt. Here Brassica with maize in the background.
Sunset on the Nile, near Sandabast Island, near Zifta, Egypt. Heading back to the shore, after a long day of collecting.
4 culms were collected at this site, from two separate plants, to form 8 duplicates in all.
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