The width of the ξ(2230) meson

A lower bound of 135 MeV for the width of the ξ meson is obtained from analyzing the pp and p̄p interactions by use of Regge theory. The pp data exclude a narrow ξ as the latter would lead to σp̄ptot far exceeding the measured ones. The broad width explains why the ξ may not be seen in p̄p experiments.