THE FLORA 183 



Margins of Loch Fada. July. It was formerly used in 

 making horse-collars, baskets, etc., in various parts of the 

 country. 



S. maritimus, L. Sea Club-rush. Seasg-na-Mara. Com- 

 mon in salt-marshes. August. Cows eat it ; the roots, dried 

 and ground to powder, have been used instead of flour in 

 times of scarcity. W. 



S. rufuSy Schrad. Plentiful in the salt-marshes at Port 

 Mor and the Strand. May and June. 



Eriophorum, L. 



E. vaginatum, L. Hare's-tail Cotton-grass. Canach-an- 

 t-Sleibh. Usually growing more in tufts and flowering 

 rather earlier than the following species, often at higher 

 elevations. May. 



E. angustifolium, Roth. Common Cotton - grass. An 

 Canach. Abundant in boggy places. The cottony tufts were 

 gathered and used for stuffing pillows and cushions. June. 



" S'e bu leaba dhuinn an Luachair 

 S'e bu chluasag dhuinn an Canach." 



This plant is useful in the island of Skye to support cattle 

 in the earlier part of spring, before other grasses are suffi- 

 ciently groAvn. Pennant's Tour, 1774. 



E. angustifolium, b. minus, Koch. Marshy ground, Carnan 

 Eoin, at an elevation of 400 feet. 



E. angustifoTium, d. elatius, Koch. Boggy ground, burn- 

 side, Leana Ghlas. July. 



Schoenus, L. 



S. nigricans, L. Bog-rush. Seimhean C. Frequent in 

 wet hollows through which the surrounding water drains. 

 June. 



S. nigricans,/ nanus. Northern slopes of Beinn-a-Sgoltaire. 

 June. 



