58 ERIOPHORUM. [class III. ORDER I. 



Habitat. — On wet barren moors, not uncommon. Plentiful in boggy 

 situations, in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, and the moors of 

 Derbyshire and Yorkshire, &c.; but most abundant in the mountaiiious 

 parts of the north ; less frequent in the south. 

 Perennial ; flowering in March and April. 



3. E. capita' turn, Host. (Fig. 86.) round-headed Cotton-c/rasi. Stem 

 round throughout, sheaths inflated, upper ones obtuse, the lower 

 terminating in a narrow subulate leaf, spike nearly round. 



English Botany, t. 2387. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 67. — Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 282. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 31. 



Root fibrous, putting out more freely and longer underground stems 

 than the last, " throwing up here and there tufts of shorter and thicker 

 leaves" — (Smith.) Stein about a span high, entirely cylindrical, 

 straight and stout. Glumes less delicate, the lower ones finely ribbed. 

 Hairs much shorter than in the above species, as is also the whole 

 plant, but of a stouter habit. 



Habitat. — Found by Mr. G. Don by the side of a rivulet on Ben 

 Lawers, Scotland, near to perpetual snow. Very rare. 



Perennial ; flowering in August. 



** Spikes several, pedunculated. 



4. E.puhes'cenSfSm. (Fig. 87.) downy-stalked Cotton-grass. Stem 

 angular, leaves flat, lanceolate, triangular at the point, peduncles 

 rough, hairs of the seed twice the length of the spike. 

 English Botany, t. 2633.— English Flora, vol. i. p. 69.— Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 282. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 32. 



Roots strong, with creeping underground stems. Steni about eighteen 

 inches high, triangular, smooth, leafy, especially below, and surrounded 

 with numerous brown decayed leaves. Leaves shealhing, linear, shorter 

 than the stem, triangular at the point, rough on the edges, especially 

 towards the point, those of the stem shorter, with longer sheaths. The 

 leaves and stem frequently assume a diseased appearance, are reddish, 

 swelled, smooth and shining. Bracteas leafy, about the length of the 

 peduncles, dilated and brown below, triangular and rough at the 

 point. Spikes ovate, from three to nine. Peduncles various in length, 

 drooping, angular or compressed, roughish (not downy, as its name 

 would imply), simple, or bearing several spikes. Glumes large, ovato- 

 acuminate, single-ribbed, dark brosvn, pale at the edges and base. 

 Seeds shining brown, obovate, with three unequal sides, terminating in 

 an abrupt point, surrounded with white glossy hairs about twice as long 

 as the spike. 



Habitat. — Wet moors, not unfrequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in April and May. 



It is stated in English Botany, that the roots are apparently 



