The native plant that serves as a primary source of paper is the papyrus plant, traditionally found in wetlands and along the banks of rivers, particularly in Egypt. Papyrus was one of the earliest materials used for writing in ancient civilizations and is made by cutting the plant into thin strips, soaking them, and pressing them to form sheets. This method dates back to around 3000 BC, where it played a crucial role in recording important texts, including religious, literary, and administrative documents. Although not widely used today, those ancient techniques laid the foundation for modern papermaking.