SEDGE FAMILY. 273 
5. Eriophorum polystachyon I. Tall Cotton-grass. (Fig. 641.) 
Eriophorum polystachyon 1,. Sp. Pl. 52. 1753. \\( 
Eriophorum latifolium Hoppe, Taschenb. 1800: 103. 1800. MX 
Culm stiff, smooth, obtusely triangular above, 
nearly terete below, 1 4°-3° tall, all the sheaths blade- 
bearing. Leaves flat, roughish-margined, 114//-4/’ 
wide, tapering to a triangular channeled rigid point, 
the upper shorter than or rarely overtopping the 
culm, those of the involucre 2-4, the longer commonly 
equalling or exceeding the inflorescence; spikelets 
3-12, ovoid, or oblong, drooping, in a terminal simple 
or more or less compound umbel; rays filiform, smooth 
or rough; scales oyate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 
purple-green or brown; bristles numerous, bright 
white, about 1/ long, 4-5 times as long as the scale; 
achene obovoid, obtuse, light brown. y | he \ |, 
In bogs, Newfoundland to Alaska, south to New Jersey, hi \ 4 
Georgia and Nebraska. Also in Europe and Asia. June- \ F 
Aug. ! \ 
6. Eriophorum gracile Koch. Slender Cotton-grass. (Fig. 642.) 
Eriophorum gracile Koch; Roth, Catal. Bot. 2: 259. 
1800. 
Eriophorum triquetrum Hoppe, Taschenb. 1800: 106, 
1800. 
Culm slender, obtusely triangular, rough on the 
angles, 1°-2° tall, the sheaths all blade-bearing. 
Leaves narrowly linear, 1’ wide or less, triangular- 
channeled, rough-margined, the upper not overtop- 
ping the culm; involucral leaf commonly only 1, 
stiff, erect; spikelets 3-8, capitate or subumbellate, 
the longer-peduncled ones drooping; scales ovate or 
oblong, obtuse or subacute, greenish brown, the mid- 
vein rather strong, often with a weaker nerve on 
each side; bristles numerous, bright white, 8//-12// 
long, 4 6 times as long as the scale; achene linear- 
oblong, acute, pointed. 
In bogs, Newfoundland to Hudson Bay and Alaska, 
south to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Also 
in Europe and Asia. June-Sept. 
Z ee 
7. Eriophorum Virginicum [,. Virginia 
Cotton-grass. (Fig. 643.) 
Eriophorum Virginicum I,. Sp. Pl. 53. 1753- 
Culm stiff, rather slender, obtusely triangular 
above, terete below, smooth, 1%4°-4° tall, rather 
leafy. Leaves narrowly linear, flat, 1//-214’’ wide, 
rough-margined, somewhat channeled toward the 
apex, the upper often overtopping the culm, those 
| of the involucre 2-4, spreading or deflexed, 2/—6/ 
long, 1 or 2 of them much longer than the spikelets; 
spikelets several or numerous in a dense terminal 
capitate cluster usually broader than high, erect or 
the outer ones spreading; scales ovate, acute, brown 
with a green centre, about 5-nerved; bristles numer- 
ous, dingy brown, about 3 times as long as the scale; 
achene linear-oblong, acute, apiculate, light brown. 
4 In bogs, Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Florida 
and Nebraska. June-Sept. 
Eriophorum Virginicum album A. Gray, Man. Ed. 5, 566. 1867. 
Bristles white. Northern New York. 
