Eriophorum.] cyperace.e. 5-17 



E. Med. — In drains or ditches on Sandown level, in many places, but sparingly. 

 By Horrinjjford bridf;e, and along ihe ditches opposite Stickworth, very commonly. 

 Between Meiry Garden and Cheverton farms, by the stream on the right-hand of 

 the little bridge the road runs over. In a marshy spoton the N.E. side of Young- 

 wood's copse, in great plenty, 1841. By the stream-side between Roude and 

 Bridge Court, pretty plentiful in one or two spots near the latter, 1844 ; also ex- 

 tremely common in the willow-beds by the side of that stream between Bridge and 

 Bagwich, 1845. Abundant in the Parsonage lynch, Newchuroh, 1843. In a 

 willow- thicket between Messley farm and Langbridge, 1842. Most abun- 

 dantly in a marshy spot in the angle of a copse a little S. W. of Combley 

 farm, 1844. Abundant in a willow-bed, called, I believe, (Juobb, on the borders 

 of Sandown marshes and a little E. of Alverstone, 1841. By the bridge at Alver- 

 stone, in plenty. Dr. Bell-Salter !.' By the St. John's turnpike (Monklon mead), 

 id., 1842. Under the clififat Shanklin, Dawson Turner, Esq., Fl. Vect. 



W.Med. — Sparingly in a wet meadow by Newport mill, 1845. 



A large and handsome species, with a panicle reminding one of Luzula sylva- 

 lica, but greenish. About 2 or 3 feet high. Stem soft, striated, leafy, with three 

 blunt angles, and filled with a white spongy pith. Leaves grass-green, very long 

 and taper-pointed, nearly an inch wide, strongly keeled beneath, many-ribbed, 

 with numerous transverse septa. Panicle ample, terminal, cymose, of several 

 principal branches, that ramify at their extremities into many minor and again 

 compounded divisions, ending in numerous slender, rough, partly deflexed pedun- 

 cles, each bearing a cluster of from 1 — 3 or more small, ovale, greenish, sessile 

 spikelets. At the base of the cyme are several (usually 3 or 4) involucral leaves 

 of unequal length, with similar smaller ones at the forks of the panicle. Glumes 

 ovate, scarcely pointed, blackish green, with about 3 strong central ribs, one or 

 two of the lowermost in each spikelet often empty. Stign\as 3, downy. Bristles 

 6 (sometimes 8, Sm.), longer than the germen, pointed with deflexed spines, 

 inserted at the base of the ovarium outside the stamens. Filaments smooth ; an- 

 thers yellow. Fruit small, broadly obovate, quite smooth (neither ribbed nor 

 punctate), pale reddish or yellowish, trigonately plano-convex, tlie angles rather 

 obtuse and prominent ; tipped with a short dark point, and shorter than the per- 

 sistent bristles. 



Leighton's figure of the fruit does not seem represented by him with his usual 

 accuracy. 



VI. EmoPHOEDM, Linn. Cotton-grass. 



" Spikelets manj'-flowered. Glumes imbricated on all sides, 

 nearly equal, all fertile or the lowermost sometimes empty. Hy- 

 pogynous bristles several, protruded, very long and silky. Style 

 trifid, deciduous. Achene triquetrous, tipped with the narrow 

 base of the style, or pointless." — Br. Fl. 



f Spike solitary. 



1. E. vaginatum, L. Horse's-tail Cotton-grass. " Stem above 

 triangular, sheaths below with long setaceous leaves above leaf- 

 less obtuse inflated, spike ovate." — Br. Fl. p. 484. E. B. t. 873. 



Fl. March— May. 11. 



W. Med.-^ Common in boggy meadows along the Medina above Cridraore. 

 Near Blackgang chine. Miss Lovell, in whose herbarium is a very distinct fruit 

 (Sept. 23rd, 1847). Miss L. says she picked it under the shore going westward 

 towards Walpen chine from Blackgang. 



W Spikes several. 



2. E. polystachion, L. Broad-leaved Cotton-grass. " Stem 

 round, peduncles smooth, leaves linear channelled their upper 



