Eriophorum Virginicum

''Eriophorum virginicum'', the tawny cottongrass, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family Cyperaceae. It is native to eastern North America but was introduced in British Columbia in western Canada. It is most common in eastern Canada, New England, and the Great Lakes region. It is the only species of ''Eriophorum'' in North America that occurs in the southeastern United States, where it is uncommon. Despite its name, it is a sedge, not a grass, and it is sometimes called tawny cottonsedge to emphasize this fact.

Description

''Eriophorum virginicum'' is a perennial herbaceous plant that spreads by means of underground rhizomes.

Taxonomy

''Eriophorum virginicum'' was first described by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Evidently Linnaeus based his diagnosis on a specimen collected in Virginia, hence the specific epithet ''virginicum'' and the common name Virginia cottongrass.

''Eriophorum virginicum'' was segregated to a new genus ''Eriophoropsis'' by the Austrian botanist and mycologist Eduard Palla in 1896. Later, in 1958, it was segregated to the existing genus ''Scirpus'' by the Japanese botanist and collector Tetsuo Michael Koyama. , both ''Eriophoropsis virginica'' and ''Scirpus virginicus'' are considered to be synonyms for ''Eriophorum virginicum''

''Eriophorum virginicum'' var. ''album'' was described by the American botanist Asa Gray in 1876. Variety ''album'' has white (not coppery) bristles. In 1924, the American botanist Karl McKay Wiegand reduced the variety to forma. Both names are considered to be synonyms for ''Eriophorum virginicum''

Distribution and habitat

''Eriophorum virginicum'' is native to eastern North America, from Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada to South Carolina in the United States (U.S.), ranging as far west as Minnesota. It was introduced in British Columbia in western Canada. In the U.S., it is most common in New England and the Great Lakes region. It is the only species of ''Eriophorum'' in North America that occurs in the southeastern U.S., where it is least common.

''Eriophorum virginicum'' is an obligate wetland (OBL) species. In New England, it prefers bogs, acidic fens, and wet meadows.

Ecology

''Eriophorum virginicum'' is a perennial flowering plant that flowers in the early summer. After the flowers are pollinated, cotton-like fruiting heads develop during mid-summer and early autumn. In Minnesota, fruiting occurs from July to September.

Eriophorum virginicum Vermont USA 2024-07-02.jpg, alt=Eriophorum virginicum with flower buds observed in Strafford, Vermont on July 2nd, With flower buds, observed in Strafford, Vermont on July 2
Eriophorum virginicum Massachusetts USA 2024-07-08.jpg, alt=Eriophorum virginicum with flowering head, With flowering head ( inflorescence), observed in Franklin County, Massachusetts on July 8
Eriophorum virginicum Wisconsin USA 2013-08-17.jpg, alt=Eriophorum virginicum with fruiting head, With fruiting head ( infructescence), observed in Jackson County, Wisconsin on August 17
Eriophorum virginicum Vermont USA 2024-06-27.jpg, alt=Eriophorum virginicum with persistent plant parts observed in Benson, Vermont on June 27th, With persistent plant parts, observed in Benson, Vermont on June 27

References

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virginicum
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

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