Treated as a tender annual and replaced every year.

‘Papyrus grew in abundance along the River Nile in ancient times. The plant had multiple uses. The pith was peeled and arranged in sheets, two being beaten together to make writing material. The fibres were woven into sail and cloths and mats, or twisted into ropes, or plaited into sandals. Jar- stoppers and children’s balls of papyrus have been found. The mature stems were tied together and made into boats, or they were used as fire wood. The feathery flowers on their long stems were the ideal base for tall composite bouquets used to decorate temples and tombs, and the stalks were edible. Herodotus tells that the lower extremity of the plant about one cubit of it (about half a meter), was a delicacy particularly when first baked in a glowing hot vessel on the fire (II.92). Theophrastes adds that all the natives 'chew the papyrus raw, boiled or roasted; they swallow the juice and spit out the quid' (IV.8.4).' [A practise also mentioned by Dioscorides].

Manniche, Lisa. (1989). An Ancient Egyptian Herbal . British Museum Publications Ltd.

The Ebers papyrus, one of the oldest medicinal texts dated to about 1550 B C, is written on parchment made of papyrus.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ebers-papyrus

Used in Pharaonic medicine as a bandage for stiff limbs and as an eye compress.

Manniche, Lisa. (1989). An Ancient Egyptian Herbal . British Museum Publications Ltd.

'In traditional Islamic medicine the ashes of papyrus matting were applied to open wounds to dry them out, the ashes being also considered beneficial for sores of the mouth, and, mixed with vinegar, to treat nose-bleed.'

Manniche, Lisa. (1989). An Ancient Egyptian Herbal . British Museum Publications Ltd.

Africa, East Tropical Africa, Kenya

Africa, East Tropical Africa, Tanzania

Africa, East Tropical Africa, Uganda

Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, Chad

Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, Ethiopia

Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, Sudan

Africa, Northern Africa, Egypt

Africa, South Tropical Africa, Angola

Africa, South Tropical Africa, Malawi

Africa, South Tropical Africa, Mozambique

Africa, South Tropical Africa, Zambia

Africa, Southern Africa, Botswana

Africa, Southern Africa, Namibia

Africa, Southern Africa, KwaZulu-Natal

Africa, West Tropical Africa, Benin

Africa, West Tropical Africa, Ivory Coast

Africa, West Tropical Africa, Guinea

Africa, West Tropical Africa, Liberia

Africa, West Tropical Africa, Nigeria

Africa, West Tropical Africa, Senegal

Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Burundi

Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Gabon

Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Congo

Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Rwanda

Africa, West-Central Tropical Africa, Zaire

Africa, Western Indian Ocean, Madagascar

Africa, Western Indian Ocean, Mauritius

Africa, Western Indian Ocean, Réunion