Eriophorum vaginatum

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Common name

Tussock Cottongrass

Scientific name

Eriophorum vaginatum L.

Conservation status and threats

NOT protected species in Bulgaria.

Description and identification

Eriophorum vaginatum is a perennial herbaceous plant. Culms are stiff, 4 to 28 inches (10-70 cm) tall, and sheathed to half their lengths. Spikelets are solitary, terminal, and erect. They are 0.4 to 0.8 inch (1-2 cm) long in flower and 0.7 to 2.0 inches (1.7-5.0 cm) long in fruit. Each flower has ≥10, typically white, perianth bristles (strong, stiff, slender hairs) that are 0.25 to 0.75 inch (6-19 mm) long and cottony, becoming more conspicuous as fruits mature. Fruits are small nutlets^1.

Distribution in Bulgaria

In the mountains Sredna Stara Planina, Vitosha, Rila, Pirin, Western and Middle Rhodopes, Osogovo, where it grows between 2000 and 2700 meters altitude².

Habitat

Alpine swampy meadows and peatlands³.

References

1 Innes, Robin J. 2014. Eriophorum vaginatum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/erivag/all.html [2021, November 9].

2 Assyov, B., A. Petrova, D. Dimitrov & R. Vassilev. 2012. Conspectus of the vascular flora of Bulgaria. Sofia, Bulgarian biodiversity foundation.

3 Пенев, Ив. 1964. Флора на Народна Република България, том II. София.

Eriophorum vaginatum на български