TRI ANDRI A MONOG YNI A. 1 7 



Hadical leaves numerous, longer than the stem when in 

 flower, and very little shorter even when in seed, broad, 

 with a long triangular roughish point. Stem leaves se- 

 veral, very long, with smooth sheaths. Spikes numerous, 

 on long flattened smooth stalks, drooping, overtopped by 

 a long foliaceous bractea. The stem may be said to be of- 

 ten branched, that is, in many specimens 1 or 2 long stalks 

 arise out of the sheaths of the leaves, and bear each a 

 spike of flowers. 



3. E. pubescens, stems angular ; leaves flat, lanceolate, with a 

 triangular point ; stalks of the spikes downy ; hairs twice the 

 length of the spike. Downy-stalked Cotton-grass. (E. polystachion^ 

 Winch. Guide, i. 6 ; Greville, Flor. Edin. 13.) 



Hab. Bogs and marshes, frequent ; Castle-hills ; field be- 

 low the Old Lamberton Toll ; Lamberton Moor, &c. 

 June. If. 



Root fibrous. Stem 12-18 inches high, smooth, striate, hol- 

 low, obtusely triangular at the base, more acute upwards. 

 Leaves all short, broad, rough on the edges and keel, with 

 a short triangular point ; the radical ones tufted, decaying 

 soon ; the cauline from 2 to 4, alternate, 2 or S inches 

 long, with smooth sheaths as long as themselves. Stipula 

 very minute, rounded, entire. Lower bractea shorter 

 than the spikes when in seed, blackish at the base, many- 

 ribbed, with a brown triangular point. Spikes 5 or 6, the 

 central one largest and sessile, the others on furrowed 

 stalks, covered with a short rough down. Glumes black- 

 ish, greenish-yellow at the base, ovate-lanceolate, 1 or 3- 

 ribbed, membranous at the margins. Seed obovate, trian- 

 gular, brown. Hairs very white and silky. 



4. E. anffustifolium, stem nearly round ; leaves linear, triangu- 

 lar, channelled towards the base ; stalks of the spikes smooth ; 

 hairs four times the length of the spike. Common Cotton-grass. 



Hab. Bogs, particularly on moors, very common. April. 



There has existed much confusion relative to these three 

 species, and yet no plants can be more distinct. The lat- 

 ter may always be known by its numerous very narrow 

 leaves, as long as the flowering stem, which in fruit, how- 

 ever, rises considerably above them ; and the stem-leaves 

 are few and short. In the E. polystachion they are much 

 broader, those of the stem much longer, and the plant it- 

 self more succulent, robust, and leafy; while its more nu- 

 merous spikes are pendant on longer, sometimes branched, 



