308 CYPEEACEJ3. 



on the banks of the Clevedon ditches ; its stems spread, and 

 the plant grows in a matted cluster. 



The Least Spike Bush (E. acicularis), is a frail little plant, 

 resembling the Many-stalked species, except that its stem is 

 square ; while that of both the other Spike Hushes is round, 

 and it is very slender and minute. My specimen was sent me 

 by a Scotch friend. 



Edward has got the Creeping Spike Bush (E. paliistris) ; it 

 grows about Hawkhurst. The plant has no leaves, and it 

 sticks up its rushy stems, with their insignificant spikes, on 

 moist ground. The root is creeping. 



I must take you to our Yorkshire or Scotch moors to show 

 you the Cotton-grass in its beauty. The flowers are very un- 

 assuming, being arranged in spikes of a greyish hue, the stamens 

 and anthers forming its only ornament ; but in seed it is very 

 beautiful, the tufts of snow-white cotton sprinkling the dark 

 moor, and nodding in the wind. 



The Hare's-tail Cotton-grass (Eriophorum vaginatum), is the 

 most common species, growing in profusion amongst the Heath. 

 The stem is triangular above, and round below, and bears one 

 spike on its summit. 



The Bound-headed Cotton-grass (E. capitatum), has also a 

 solitary spike ; but its only habitat, according to Sir J. E. Smith, 

 is on Ben Lawers. 



The Broad-leaved Cotton-grass (E. polystachion), has flat 

 lance-shaped leaves, and a great number of small drooping 

 spikes. I gathered it in fruit a year ago last May, in a shaking 

 bog near Tiverton. 



The common Cotton-grass (E. angustifolium, Plate 3LVII., 

 fig. 10), is the handsomest member of the family. The spikes 

 droop as in the last species, but are much larger, and the leaves 

 are very narrow. It abounds in marshy ground among the 

 Yorkshire moors. 



The Slender Cotton-grass (E. gracile), I found on the banks 

 of the Swale above Melbecks, very early in the spring. The 



