COTTON GRASS 



53 



are pollinated by the wind, bisexual. There are 3 stamens, the style 

 is deciduous, and there are 2 stigmas. The anthers are apiculate, 

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

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



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



Eleocharis, R. Brown, is from the Greek kelos, marsh, and chairo, I 

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

 is also called Aglet-headed Rush. 



Photo. Hat 



COMMON SPIKE RUSH (Eleocharis palustris, Koem. and Schult.) 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



319. Eleocharis palustris, Roem. and Schult. Root creeping, leaves 

 and stems tufted, csespitose, the latter sheathed, glume surrounding the 

 spike, fruit swollen at the top. 



Cotton Grass (Eriophorum angustifolium, Roth) 



This Arctic plant is found in Preglacial deposits in Norfolk and 

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

 be found in N. Temperate and Arctic Europe, except N. Asia, N. 

 America. In Great Britain 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 and Sussex, and 



