It is a tender herbaceous perennial, forming tall stands of reed-like swamp vegetation in shallow water.

In nature, it grows in full sun, in flooded swamps, and on lake margins throughout Africa (where it is native),[3] Madagascar, and the Mediterranean region.

Each stem is topped by a dense cluster of thin, bright green, thread-like rays around 10 to 30 cm (4 to 10 in) in length, resembling a feather duster when the plant is young.

Greenish-brown flower clusters eventually appear at the ends of the rays, giving way to brown, nut-like fruits.

[9] Papyrus sedge forms vast stands in swamps, shallow lakes, and along stream banks throughout the wetter parts of Africa, but it has become rare in the Nile Delta.

Papyrus is a C4 sedge that forms highly productive monotypic stands over large areas of wetland in Africa.

Extremely moist soil or roots sunken in the water is preferred and the plant can flower all year long.

[15] In Ancient Egypt, papyrus was used for various purposes such as baskets, sandals, blankets, medicine, incense, and boats.

10) states that it grew in Syria, and according to Pliny's Natural History, it was also a native plant of the Niger River and the Euphrates.

Theophrastus states that King Antigonus made the rigging of his fleet of papyrus, an old practice illustrated by the ship's cable, wherewith the doors were fastened when Odysseus slew the suitors in his hall (Odyssey xxi.

[21] The adventurer Thor Heyerdahl had a boat built for him of papyrus, Ra, in an attempt to demonstrate that ancient African or Mediterranean people could have reached America.