ERIOCAULACE^E PIPEWORT FAMILY 



Eriocaulon articulatum, (Huds.) Morong. 



Slate colour or white Pipewort, 



July-September Seven-angled Pipewort. 



Eriocaulon: from Greek for wool and stalk in allusion to 



the wool at the base of the stem in some species. 

 Articulatum: Latin for jointed. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: wet borders of ponds, or just 

 within the water's edge. 



THE PLANT: erect; the bare flower stalks one to eight 

 inches high, unbranched, twisted and seven-angled, weak, 

 sometimes when submerged four feet and more long. 



THE LEAVES: numerous; in a tuft at the base; awl-shaped; 

 sometimes three inches long; soft; hairless on both sur- 

 faces; tapering and acute at the apex; entire; with a prom- 

 inent central marking and cross-lines at regular intervals. 



THE FLOWERS: minute, in dense heads at the top of the 

 stem; bracts of the involucre smooth, oblong, usually 

 shorter than the flowers. 



THE FRUIT: capsules. 



From the tufts of the basal leaves under the water, rise 

 naked, whitish grey stems, and these in turn are topped 

 with small curious heads, that look somewhat like tiny 

 pin cushions filled with white pins such is the Pipewort 

 that grows on the clean borders of the fresh- water ponds. 



