SEDGE FAMILY. 



5. Eriophorum polystachyon L. Tall Cotton-gn. (F%. 641. 



roai um polvsiach -yon L. Sp. PI. 52. 1753. 

 Xrinfilmrum lat'ifolinm Hoppe, Taschenb. 1806: loj. 1800. 



Culin stiff, smooth, obtusely triangular above, 

 nearly terete below, i^-3 tall, all the sheaths blade- 

 bearing. Leaves flat, roughish-margined, i#"-4" 

 wide, tapering to a triangular channeled rigid point, 

 the upper shorter than or rarely overtopping the 

 culm, those of the involucre 2-4, the longer commonlv 

 equalling or exceeding the inflorescence; spikelcts 

 3-12, ovoid, or oblong, drooping, in a terminal simple 

 or more or less compound umbel; rays filiform, smooth 

 or rough; scales ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 

 purple-green or brown; bristles numerous, bright 

 white, about i' long, 4-5 times as long as the scale; 

 achene obovoid, obtuse, light brown. 



In bogs, Newfoundland to Alaska, south to New Jersey, 

 Georgia and Nebraska. Also in Europe and Asia. June 

 Aug. 



6. Eriophorum gracile Koch. 



1 800. 



Slender Cotton-grass. 



gratilf K.K.-U; Roth, Catal. But : j 

 Taachrnb. 



Kriophorum ttiquelrum Hoppe, 

 1800. 



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Culm slender, obtusely triangular, rough on the 

 angles, i-2 tall, the sheaths all tilwle-hrarinjc. 

 Leaves narrowly linear, i" wide or lew, triangular- 

 channcled, rough-margined, the upper not owtop- 

 ping the culm; involucral leaf commonly only I. 

 stiff, erect; spikelcts 3-8, capitate or abntnbellate. 

 the longer- peduncled ones drooping; scales oral* or 

 oblong, obtuse or subacute, greenish brown, the odd- 

 vein rather strong, often with a weaker nerve oo 

 each side; bristles numerous, bright white, .> 

 long, 4 6 times as long as the scale; achene linear- 

 oblong, acute, pointed. 



In bogs, Newfoundland t<> Hudaoa Bar aad A la* Ira, 

 south to New ji-r-ry Pennsylvania and MiawmrL Ala* 



in Europe and Asia. Juiu- H 



7. Eriophorum Virginicum L. Virginia 

 Cotton-grass. (Fig. 643.) 



Erioplioruin I'irginicum L. Sp. PI. 53. i?53- 



Culm stiff, rather slender, obtusely triangular 

 above, terete below, smooth, i^-4 tall, rather 

 leafy. Leaves narrowly linear, flat, \"--2%" wide, 

 rough-margined, somewhat channeled toward the 

 apex, the upper often overtopping the culm, those 

 of the involucre 2-4, spreading or dcflexed, z'-6 f 

 long, i or 2 of them much longer than the spikelets; 

 spikelets several or numerous in a dense terminal 

 capitate cluster usually broader than high, erect or 

 the outer ones spreading; scales ovate, acute, brown 

 with a green centre, about 5-nerved; bristles numer- 

 ous, dingy brown, about 3 times as long as the scale; 

 achene linear-oblong, acute, apiculate, light brown. 



In bogs. Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Florida 

 and Nebraska. June-Sept. 



Eriophorum Virginicum album A. Gray, Man. Ed. 

 Bristles white. Northern New York. 



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