COTTON GRASS 



53 



are pollinated by the wiiul, Ijisexual. 1 here are 3 stamens, tlie style 

 is deciduous, and there are 2 stii^mas. The anthers are apiculate, 

 coming- to a point. The iVuit is a nut flattened on the border and 

 finely furrowed, which falls tt) the ground when ripe, not opening. 



This Spike-rush is a peat-loving plant, and addicted to a peat soil. 



Elcocharis, R. Brown, is from the Greek hclos, marsh, and cliairo, I 

 delight, and the second Latin name refers to the habitat, marshy. It 

 is also called Aglet-headed Rush. 



Common Spike rtsii (F.leorhnn's /^nluslris, Roeni. and Scluilt.) 



Essential Speciiic Characters: — 



319. E/cocharis pa/iisiris, Roem. and Schult. — Root creeping, leaves 

 and stems tufted, ca^spitose, the latter sheathed, glume surrounding the 

 spike, fruit swollen at the top. 



Cotton Grass (I'.i-iophorum anguslifolium, Roth) 



This Arctic plain is found in IVeglacial deposits in Norfolk and 

 Suffolk, and at Ho.xne, Suffolk, in Interglacial beds. To-day it is to 

 be found in N. Temjierate and /Xrctic Europe, except N. Asia, N. 

 America. In Great l>ritain it is found in every part of the country 

 except W. Gloucs, Montgomery, Mid Lanes. It is commonly dis- 

 tributed elsewhere from the .Shetlands to Cornwall ami Sussex, and 



