CLASS m. ORDEE I.] ERIOPHORDM. 59 



creeping, but broken, in the specimen there figured and described ; in 

 reference to which, it may be worthy of remark, that in every instance 

 in which we remember to have met with this species, its strong roots 

 have been invariably intermixed with those of other plants, in such a 

 manner as to render it difficult to obtain specimens with any portion of 

 the roots remaining attached to them. 



5. E.polysta'chion, Linn. (Fig. 88.) broad-leaved Cotton-grass. Stem 

 round, leaves linear-lanceolate, flat, triangular at the point, pedun- 

 cles smooth, hairs of the seed thrice the length of the spike. 



English Botany, t. 563. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 68. — Lindley, Sy- 

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



Root fibrous, in whorls towards the base of the stalks. Stem erect 

 from one to more than two feet high, smooth, round, striated, sometimes 

 slightly angular at the top, jointed. Leaves numerous, broad, 

 flat, slightly keeled, triangular at the point, rough on the edges and 

 keel, especially towards the end, sheathing at the base, which is entire 

 in this and the other species, and not slit on one side, as in the true 

 grasses ; the old withered leaves are generally very numerous around 

 the base of the stem. Bracteas leafy, dilated, and dark-brown at the 

 base, with thin pale membranous edges. Spikes several, sessile, and 

 stalked, sometimes the stalks bear several spikes. Glumes membra- 

 nous, lanceolate, pale brown at the base. Anthers linear yellow. The 

 spikes are pendulous when in seed, and the white glossy hairs about 

 three times as long. 



Habitat. — Jn wet boggy situations, Sherwood Forest, Nottingham- 

 shire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Yorkshire, &c., probably not 

 unfrequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in April and May. 



We are unable at all times clearly to distinguish this species from 

 either the preceding or following: from the former it is sometimes only 

 to be known by the peduncles being smooth, not rough ; and from 

 the latter in the leaves being broader and less triangular, and the pe- 

 duncles mostly bearing several spikes, a circumstance which we have 

 never seen in it. 



6. J3. angustifo'lium, Roth. (Fig. 89.) common Cotton-grass. Stem 

 nearly round, smooth, leaves linear, triangular, grooved towards 

 the base, peduncles smooth, hairs of the seed about four times the 

 length of the spike. 

 English Botany, t. 564. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 69. — Lindley, Sy- 

 nopsis, p. 282. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 32. — Sinclair, Grami- 

 neus Woburnensis, p. 356. 



Roots strong, with creeping underground stems. Stems from one to 

 three feet high, erect, smooth, round below, mostly somewhat angular 

 above. Leaves generally about the length of the stem, sometimes 



