AMBACH.
Botanical Composition.The sudd-forming plants may be classed in three divisions.[230]
The first, which contains plants whose roots descend to the river bed, is chiefly composed of the papyrus (Cyperus Papyrus), the common reed or “Bus” (Phragmites communis), and the feathery-headed grass (Saccharum Spontaneum).
The second kind is composed entirely of plants whose roots are in the water, but do not strike down to the ground or bed of river. The principal plant in this class is the “Um sûf” (Panicum pyramidale), grass, so called by the Arabs (“Mother of wool”) on account of the irritant hairs found on its leaf-sheaths which adhere to the skin of anyone touching them. In addition to the above, the wild bean (Vigna Nilotica) and creepers with purple flowers (Ipomœa) are found in profusion.
The third or last class of sudd is composed entirely of plants which swim upon the surface of the water. These form the cementing medium which binds the first two classes together.
The following are the principal components of this class:—
Pistia, a small cabbage-like plant with bright green leaves. Azolla, resembling moss in texture. Utricularia, Aldrovandia and Ceratophyllum, all resembling feathery floating streamers. The first variety has a series of small bulbs, like floats, attached to each streamer. The last is common in the canals and drains of Lower Egypt.
Otellia, a plant with big leaves and a white flower like a lily.[231] It is found everywhere in this class of sudd, and is met with at Damietta, where it is called by the Arabs “Lughmet el Kadi,” or the “Kadi’s pudding.”
In and among the above the blue-flowered creeper (Commellaria) is found.
Detail. (Mr. Broun.)Regarding the detail of the formation, the first point of interest is that all the most important sudd plants propagate themselves by means of tubular rhizomes which run along the surface of the water giving out shoots from point to point. These shoots, after developing, give out other runners which cross the others and weave themselves into them, a further consolidation being given by twiners which bind them all together.