Eriophorum. | LXXXVIII. CYPERACEZ. 485 
Spikelets above 6 lines long, ovoid, of a dark olive-green. 
Hypogynous bristles very numerous . A P é . 2. EL. vaginatum. 
Spikelets several to each stem ° PUA ° . . . 3. E. polystachion. 
1, E.alpinum, Linn. (fig. 1104). Alpine Cottonsedge.—In every- 
thing but the long bristles this plant precisely resembles Scirpus cespitosus. 
It has the same densely tufted stems, 6 to 10 inches high, with imbricate 
sheaths at the base; the inner ones with very short leafy tips, and small, 
brown, solitary and terminal spikelets. After flowering the hypogynous 
bristles, about 6 to each flower, form a silky tuft attaining an inch im 
length. 
In bogs, in the high mountain-ranges of Europe and Russian Asia, or 
at high latitudes all round the Arctic circle. In Britain now extinct, 
the bog near Forfar where it was formerly found being now drained. 7. 
summer, 
2, &. vaginatum, Linn. (fig. 1105). Sheathing Cottonsedge.—Stems 
tufted, a foot high or more, covered at the base with a few loose ragged 
sheaths, one or two of which bear linear, almost subulate leaves, shorter 
than the stem, and one or two of the upper sheaths inflated, without any 
or only a very short blade. Spikelet solitary, terminal, ovoid, 6 to & lines 
long, of a deep olive-green. Hypogynous bristles very numerous to each 
flower, forming at length very dense cottony tufts, nearly globular, about 
an inch in diameter. 
In bogs and wet moors, in northern and central Europe, northern Asia, 
and North America, and in the mountains of southern Europe. Extends 
all over Britain. Fl. summer. 
3. BE. polystachion, Linn. (fig. 1106). Common Cottonsedge.— 
Rootstock creeping. Leaves few, mostly radical, much shorter than the 
stem, more or less triangular, or channelled at the top or all the way along, 
those on the stem often very short. Stems about a foot high, with a 
terminal umbel of 2 or 3 to 8 or 10 or even more spikelets; the inner ones 
sessile, the outer ones more or less stalked and often drooping ; the 1 to 3 
outer bracts more or less leafy. Each spikelet ovoid or oblong, 5 or 6 lines 
long ; the glumes thin, of an olive-green, with scarious edges, or sometimes 
altogether brown. Hypogynous bristles very numerous, forming dense 
cottony tufts, often attaining 1 to 14 inches in length. 
In bogs and wet moors, the commonest species in Europe, Russian Asia, 
and North America. Frequent in Britain. FU. summer. It is usually 
divided into 3 species, H. latefoliwum, Hoppe, with leaves flattened the 
greater part of their length; H. gracile, Koch., with very slender leaves, 
and few, almost erect spikelets; and #. angustifolium, Roth., with inter- 
mediate leaves and more numerous spikelets. Other characters, derived 
from the smoothness or roughness of the peduncles, or from the length of 
the cottony bristles, do not appear to be near so constant as has been 
supposed. [The usual limitation of these forms is as follows: EH. poly- 
stachion proper. Rootstock long. Stems not tufted, solid. Leaves 
channelled. Glumes ovate. Nut mucronate. . latifoliwm, Hoppe. 
Rootstock short. Stems tufted, slender, 3-genous, hollow. Leaves fiat. 
Glumes lanceolate. Nut mucronate. . gracile, Koch. Stem very slender, 
3-gonous. Leaves short, very narrow, 3-gonous. Glumes broad, obtuse. 
Nut very narrow, obtuse, Very rare. | 
