Northeast Wetland Flora
Field Office Guide to Plant Species
Eriophorum viridi-carinatum (Engelm.) Fernald
- Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
- Flowering: May-August
- Field Marks: This cotton-grass is recognized by its 3-30 spikelets subtended by 2-4 bracts, its leaves 1/4-1/3 inch wide, and the greenish scales with a midvein prominent all the way to the tip.
- Habitat: Wet meadows, swampy woods, bogs, fens.
- Habit: Tufted perennial from thickened rootstocks.
- Stems: Slender, tufted, triangular, smooth, up to 3 feet tall.
- Leaves: Elongated, flat, smooth, 1/4-1/3 inch wide, the basal leaves numerous, the leaves on the stem few.
- Flowers: Crowded into 3-30 spikelets, the spikelets oblongoid to ovoid, up to 1 1/2 inches long, subtended by 2-4 foliaceous bracts; scales greenish to lead-colored, lanceolate, with the midvein paler in color and prominent to the tip.
- Sepals: 0.
- Petals: 0.
- Stamens: 3.
- Pistils: Ovary superior; styles 3-cleft.
- Fruits: Achenes obovoid, smooth, short-pointed at the tip, 1/10-1/6 inch long, subtended by numerous cream-colored hairs.
- Notes: Waterfowl eat the achenes.
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