It is actually the long hairs attached to the base of the fruit of the Cottongrasses that are white.
What is the difference between the two common species?
Hare's-tail Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) has one head per shoot, and narrow bristle-like leaves.
Common Cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium) has several heads per shoot and wide grass/sedge like leaves with long narrow red leaf tips.
Where do they grow?
Both grow in peat bogs.
There is very little peat bog close (within 3 miles) to Settle. But that makes me value the tiny patches that exist the more valuable.
Cottongrasses (Eriophorum genus) belong to the Sedge family (Cyperaceae)
A third of the four British species of Eriophorum - Broad-leaved Cottongrass grows 7 miles from Settle in calcareous mire, but that is too far to go on lockdown walks.
Mike Donald mentions Cottongrass in his song "Land of the Pennine God" about an accident on the Settle Carlisle Line in 1910. And 10 miles north of Settle there is lots of it on the Moors.
2. Common Cottongrass
Common Cottongrass- Eriophorum angustifolium still young - the white hairs will get longer: 25 May Hunter Bark.
Cottongrasses (Eriophorum genus) belong to the Sedge family (Cyperaceae)
A third of the four British species of Eriophorum - Broad-leaved Cottongrass grows 7 miles from Settle in calcareous mire, but that is too far to go on lockdown walks.
Mike Donald mentions Cottongrass in his song "Land of the Pennine God" about an accident on the Settle Carlisle Line in 1910. And 10 miles north of Settle there is lots of it on the Moors.
"Travelling the land of the Pennine God
Through the cotton grass and the brown peat bog
Through the land of the ice and fog
Land of the Pennine God"
But not much within Settle Parish
I finally made it up to Hunter Bark on 25 May this year: This is an area of heather moorland on millstone grit between Settle and Long Preston Parish rising to 315 m (1033ft) at the trig point. The Ribble meanders in the valley below at 126 metres (413 feet), and the Settle Carlisle Line nearby, a few metres higher to raise it above the flood level.
In 1993 I drew a panoramic sketch if the View from Hunter Bark and it was printed in Settle Community News Number 5. Well done to all who have produced the News ever since then! .. Maybe I should photocopy that drawing when I get more time.
OK back to the Cottongrasses.
1. Hare's-tail Cottongrass
Hare's-tail Cottongrass: Eriophorum vaginatum 25 May Hunter Bark. It grows in tussocks and has bristle-like leaves
In 1993 I drew a panoramic sketch if the View from Hunter Bark and it was printed in Settle Community News Number 5. Well done to all who have produced the News ever since then! .. Maybe I should photocopy that drawing when I get more time.
OK back to the Cottongrasses.
1. Hare's-tail Cottongrass
Hare's-tail Cottongrass: Eriophorum vaginatum 25 May Hunter Bark. It grows in tussocks and has bristle-like leaves
2. Common Cottongrass
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Common Cottongrass- Eriophorum angustifolium still young - the white hairs will get longer: 25 May Hunter Bark.
It has grass/sedge like leaves but with long red tips. It can grow in bog pools.
Another member of the Cyperaceae growing on the peat at Hunter Bark is Deer Grass - Trichophorum germanicum. It has brown flowers and fruit, not white - but I think I'll just pop it in here for now.
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Another member of the Cyperaceae growing on the peat at Hunter Bark is Deer Grass - Trichophorum germanicum. It has brown flowers and fruit, not white - but I think I'll just pop it in here for now.
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| Deer-grass Trichophorum germanicum |
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Deer-grass Trichophorum germanicum |
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