53* 



cyperAce,e 



spikelets 4 — 12, in a terminal, umbellate cluster, the inner sessile, 

 the outer on smooth peduncles; perianth of very numerous 

 bristles, forming dense cottony tufts, 1 — 2 in. long. — Bogs 5 the 

 commonest species. Attempts have been made to spin the 

 cotton, but without much success. It is used for stuffing pillows, 



under the name of 

 11 Arctic Wool." — Fl. 

 May, June. Perennial. 



4. E. polystdcthion 

 (Broad-leaved Cotton- 

 grass). — Stems tufted, 

 hollow ; leaves flat ; 

 spikelets generally less 

 numerous, on rough 

 peduncles. — Less com- 

 mon. 



5. E. grdcile (Slender 

 Cotton-grass). — A very 

 slender species, some- 

 what intermediate be- 

 tween the two last, some- 

 times 2 feet high ; leaves 

 channelled ; spikelets 

 about 4, on downy 

 peduncles. — Bogs ; very 

 rare. — June, July. Peren- 

 nial. 



6. Rhvnch6spora 

 (Beak-Sedge). — Tufted, 

 leafy plants with terete 

 spikelets clustered in 

 terminal or axillary heads, 

 each 1 — 2-flowered; 

 glumes many ; perianth 

 of 6 included bristles ; 

 nut beaked. (Name from 

 -the permanent base of 



eri6phorum polystXchion 

 {Broad-leaved Cotton-grass). 



the Greek rhunchos, a beak, spora, seed 

 the style forming a beak to the fruit.) 



1. R.jusca (Brown Beak-Sedge). — Rhizome long; stems 6 — 10 

 in. high, very slender ; leaves few, subulate ; spikelets brown, 

 usually in two clusters, one terminal, the other lateral ; stamens 3. 

 — Bogs in the south ; very rare. — Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



2. R. alba (White Beak-Sedge).— Rhizome short; stems 6—18 



