Common Cottongrass

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Common Cottongrass

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Eriophorum
Species: E. angustifolium
Binomial name
Eriophorum angustifolium
Honck.

Common cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium Honck., syn. E. polystachion L.) is a plant from the sedge (Cyperaceae) family, so even though it looks like a form of grass, technically it is not. It grows in acidic wetlands and peat bogs all over northern parts of Europe, Asia and North America. The flowering stem is 20-70 cm tall, and has three to five cotton-like inflorescences hanging from the top. It is also sometimes referred to as multi-headed bog cotton.

The presence of cottongrass is a useful indicator to hikers of potentially dangerous deep peat bogs to be avoided.

Detail of inflorescence
Detail of inflorescence

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