Eriophorum | |
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Eriophorum vaginatum | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Cyperaceae |
Genus: | Eriophorum L. [1] |
Type species | |
Eriophorum vaginatum | |
Synonyms [3] | |
Heterotypic synonyms
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Eriophorum (cottongrass, cotton-grass or cottonsedge) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cyperaceae, the sedge family. They are found in the cool temperate, alpine, and Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, primarily in the middle latitudes of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Eriophorium species are perennial herbaceous plants that persist by means of underground rhizomes. [4] [5] Stems (called culms) grow singly or in clumps (i.e., cespitose). Both basal leaves and stem leaves are present, although the latter are bladeless in some species. The terminal inflorescence is either a single erect spikelet or multiple spikelets on peduncles of various lengths. In the case of multiple spikelets, the inflorescence is subtended by one or more leaf-like bracts. Individual flowers have 10 or more smooth perianth bristles that greatly elongate and remain attached to the achene during fruiting. The bristles facilitate seed dispersal by wind. In cold Arctic regions, the bristles also serve as insulation by trapping solar radiation and thereby increasing the temperature of the reproductive organs. [6]
Identification keys often begin with a pair of alternatives that implicitly divide the genus into two mutually exclusive sections: [4] [5] [7] [8]
Besides the number of spikelets and the presence of bracts, other characters may be used for identification, including: the length of the uppermost leaf blade relative to its sheath; the number of bracts (0, 1, or more than 1); the length and orientation of the bracts; the length of the peduncles; and the color of the bristles.
In the first edition of Species Plantarum published in 1753, the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus established genus Eriophorum by recognizing four species: Eriophorum vaginatum, Eriophorum polystachion, Eriophorum virginicum, and Eriophorum alpinum. [1] [9] In the second edition published in 1762, Linnaeus added a fifth species, Eriophorum cyperinum. [10] The name EriophorumL. is the primary generic name in use today. [3] [11] Although the names of some of the species have changed, the number of recognized taxa in genus Eriophorum has remained more-or-less the same since 1994. [12] [13]
In the fifth edition of Genera Plantarum published in 1754 (intended to accompany the first edition of Species Plantarum), Linnaeus referenced the prior work of the Italian botanist Pier Antonio Micheli and the French botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort. [14] In 1729, Micheli described genus Linagrostis, including an illustration of an unidentified plant. [15] (The plant was later identified to be Eriophorum vaginatum. [16] ) Tournefort coined the French name Linaigrette (Latin: Linagrostis) in 1694, [17] but his contribution became better known in Europe when his book was translated to Latin in 1719. [18]
The French naturalist and mineralogist Jean-Étienne Guettard resurrected the pre-Linnaean name Linagrostis in 1750, and again in 1754, but LinagrostisGuett. is regarded as a synonym for EriophorumL. [19] [20] After Guettard, the name Linagrostis was redescribed by numerous botanists, including John Hill (1756), Johann Gottfried Zinn (1757), and Giovanni Antonio Scopoli (1771), [21] [22] [23] but all three published illegitimate names since LinagrostisGuett. takes precedence. Scopoli's description of LinagrostisTourn. ex Scop. is notable, however, since it is explicitly based on the early work of Tournefort. [24] The names Linagrostis vaginata(L.) Scop., Linagrostis alpina(L.) Scop., and Linagrostis polystachia(L.) Scop. are synonyms for the corresponding names introduced by Linnaeus in 1753. [25] [26] [27]
The Austrian botanist and mycologist Eduard Palla established genus Eriophoropsis in 1896 by segregating Eriophorum virginicum into a new genus. [28] The name EriophoropsisPalla is both a synonym for EriophorumL. and the basionym of Eriophorum subgen. Eriophoropsis(Palla) Raymond, the latter described by the Canadian botanist Louis-Florent-Marcel Raymond in 1954. [29] [30]
As of August 2024 [update] , the following species are accepted by Plants of the World Online (POWO): [3]
Name/Author | Year described | Year published | Distribution |
---|---|---|---|
Eriophorum angustifolium Honck. | 1782 | 1782 | Widespread across Europe, Asia, North America |
Eriophorum arcticum (M.S.Novos.) Schekhovts. | 1994 | 2023 | Siberia |
Eriophorum brachyantherum Trautv. & C.A.Mey. | 1856 | 1856 | Scandinavia, northern Russia, Mongolia, Korea, Alaska, northern Canada |
Eriophorum callitrix Cham. ex C.A.Mey. | 1831 | 1831 | Siberia, Russian Far East, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Montana, Wyoming |
Eriophorum chamissonis C.A.Mey. | 1831 | 1831 | Siberia, Russian Far East, Korea, Mongolia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, northern and western United States |
Eriophorum gracile Roth [31] | 1799 | 1799 | Much of Europe; northern and Central Asia; China, Tibet, Mongolia, Alaska, Canada, northern United States |
Eriophorum humile Turcz. | 1838 | 1838 | Altai, Tuva, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Amur |
Eriophorum latifolium Hoppe | 1800 | 1800 | Much of Europe; Caucasus, Turkey, Mongolia |
Eriophorum scheuchzeri Hoppe | 1800 | 1800 | Much of Europe; northern and Central Asia including Siberia, Xinjiang, Himalayas, Alaska, Greenland, Canada, mountains of western United States |
Eriophorum tenellum Nutt. | 1818 | 1818 | Eastern Canada and northeastern United States from Nunavut and Labrador to New Jersey |
Eriophorum tolmatchevii M.S.Novos. | 1994 | 1994 | Krasnoyarsk, Yakutiya |
Eriophorum transiens Raymond | 1959 | 1959 | Guizhou |
Eriophorum triste (Th.Fr.) Hadac & Á.Löve | 1869 | 1950 | Finland, North America and temperate regions of Asia |
Eriophorum vaginatum L. | 1753 | 1753 | Most of genus range |
Eriophorum virginicum L. | 1753 | 1753 | Eastern North America from Labrador to Tennessee, west to Michigan |
Eriophorum viridicarinatum (Engelm.) Fernald | 1844 | 1905 | Canada including Arctic territories; northern United States |
The following natural hybrids are also accepted by POWO:
Name/Author (hybrid formula) | Year described | Year published | Distribution |
---|---|---|---|
Eriophorum × beringianum Raymond (E. angustifolium × E. chamissonis) | 1957 | 1957 | Alaska including Aleutians; Magadan region of Russia |
Eriophorum × churchillianum Lepage (E. triste × E. vaginatum) | 1957 | 1957 | Alaska |
Eriophorum × fellowsii (Fernald) M.S.Novos. (E. virginicum × E. viridicarinatum) | 1905 | 1995 | Ontario, Maine, Massachusetts |
Eriophorum × gracilifolium M.S.Novos. (E. gracile × E. latifolium) | 1994 | 1994 | European Russia |
Eriophorum × medium Andersson (E. chamissonis × E. scheuchzeri) | 1857 | 1857 | Scattered locations in Finland, Norway, Russia, Alaska, Quebec, Labrador |
Eriophorum × pylaieanum Raymond (E. chamissonis × E. vaginatum) | 1951 | 1951 | Scattered locations in Canada and Alaska |
Eriophorum × rousseauianum Raymond (E. angustifolium × E. scheuchzeri) | 1950 | 1950 | Alaska, Quebec |
World Flora Online (WFO) accepts all of the above species and hybrids except Eriophorum arcticum. [11] In addition, WFO accepts Eriophorum × polystachiovaginatum whereas POWO does not.
Of the five species described by Linnaeus in 1753 and 1762, three of the names are no longer in use. Eriophorum polystachionL. is a rejected name, [32] [33] now considered to be a synonym for Eriophorum angustifoliumHonck. subsp. angustifolium, [34] while Eriophorum alpinumL. and Eriophorum cyperinumL. are synonyms for Trichophorum alpinum (L.) Pers. and Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth, respectively. [35] [36]
The Swedish mycologist and botanist Elias Magnus Fries described Eriophorum russeolum in 1836. [37] Some authors consider Eriophorum russeolumFr. to be a synonym for Eriophorum chamissonisC.A.Mey., [38] [39] while others consider the two names to refer to separate species. [40] [41] [42] [43]
In 1942, the American agrostologist and botanist Alan Ackerman Beetle placed the species Scirpus crinigerA.Gray into genus Eriophorum. [44] In 2012, Eriophorum crinigerum(A.Gray) Beetle was segregated into genus Calliscirpus, and so Eriophorum crinigerum is a synonym for Calliscirpus criniger(A.Gray) C.N.Gilmour, J.R.Starr & Naczi. [45]
In 1957, the Canadian botanist Louis-Florent-Marcel Raymond placed the species Scirpus scabriculmisBeetle into genus Eriophorum. [46] In 2019, Eriophorum scabriculme(Beetle) Raymond was segregated into genus Trichophorum. [47] Hence Eriophorum scabriculme is a synonym for Trichophorum scabriculme(Beetle) J.R.Starr, Lév.-Bourret & B.A.Ford. [48]
The invalidly published name Eriophorum × polystachiovaginatumBeauverd is a synonym for Eriophorum × beauverdiiSoó but the latter is unplaced by POWO. [49]
In 1849, the Swedish botanist and traveller Nils Johan Andersson placed the European species of Eriophorum into two new sections: [50]
Eriophorum section Vaginata: [51]
Eriophorum section Phyllanthela: [52]
In 1905, the American botanist Merritt Lyndon Fernald placed the North American species of Eriophorum into Andersson's sections as follows: [53]
Eriophorum section Vaginata:
Eriophorum section Phyllanthela:
Based on phylogenetic analyses, Eriophorum forms a well‐supported clade nested within the genus Scirpus , which suggests the latter is paraphyletic. To resolve this issue, there are at least two options: 1) merge Eriophorum into Scirpus, or 2) split Scirpus into a series of new genera. As of August 2024 [update] , there has been insufficient data for a majority of botanists to prefer one option or the other. [54] [55]
Eriophorum virginicum, Eriophorum tenellum, and Eriophorum gracile form a strongly supported clade that is sister to the rest of the genus. The clade is distinguished by having glumes (scales at the base of each flower in a spikelet) with many prominent nerves, whereas the glumes of the remaining species possess a single prominent midnerve. [56]
Within a weakly supported clade of unispicate species (i.e., species with a single spikelet), Eriophorum russeolum and Eriophorum scheuchzeri form a strongly supported, monophyletic species complex characterized by a rhizomatous habit, up to 7 sterile glumes, and by glumes with well-defined hyaline margins (i.e., with thin, translucent edges). In contrast, in the sister clade to this complex (Eriophorum vaginatum, Eriophorum brachyantherum, and Eriophorum callitrix) each species has a caespitose habit and more than 12 sterile glumes that generally lack clear hyaline margins. [56]
Eriophorum species are found in the cool temperate, alpine, and Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, [4] [5] primarily in the middle latitudes of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Preferred habitats include bogs, fens, meadows, and alpine tundra.[ citation needed ]
Paper and the wicks of candles have been made of its fiber, and pillows stuffed with the same material. The leaves were formerly used in treating diarrhea, and the spongy pith of the stem for the removal of tapeworm. [57]
Trillium erectum, the red trillium, also known as wake robin, purple trillium, bethroot, or stinking benjamin, is a species of flowering plant in the family Melanthiaceae. The plant takes its common name "wake robin" by analogy with the European robin, which has a red breast heralding spring. Likewise Trillium erectum is a spring ephemeral plant whose life-cycle is synchronized with that of the forests in which it lives. It is native to the eastern United States and eastern Canada from northern Georgia to Quebec and New Brunswick.
The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family is large; botanists have described some 5,500 known species in about 90 genera – the largest being the "true sedges", with over 2,000 species.
Eriophorum angustifolium, commonly known as common cottongrass or common cottonsedge, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. Native to North America, North Asia, and Europe, it grows on peat or acidic soils, in open wetland, heath or moorland. It begins to flower in April or May and, after fertilisation in early summer, the small, unremarkable brown and green flowers develop distinctive white bristle-like seed-heads that resemble tufts of cotton; combined with its ecological suitability to bog, these characteristics give rise to the plant's alternative name, bog cotton.
Heracleum sphondylium, commonly known as hogweed or common hogweed, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the carrot family Apiaceae, which includes fennel, cow parsley, ground elder and giant hogweed. It is native to most of Europe, western Asia and northern Africa, but is introduced in North America and elsewhere. Other common names include cow parsnip. The flowers provide a great deal of nectar for pollinators.
Tiarella cordifolia, the heart-leaved foamflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Saxifragaceae. The specific name cordifolia means "with heart-shaped leaves", a characteristic shared by all taxa of Tiarella in eastern North America. It is also referred to as Allegheny foamflower, false miterwort, and coolwort.
Tiarella, the foamflowers, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Saxifragaceae. The generic name Tiarella means "little turban", which suggests the shape of the seed capsules. Worldwide there are seven species, one each in eastern Asia and western North America, plus five species in eastern North America. As of October 2022, the taxonomy of Tiarella in eastern North America is in flux.
Tiarella trifoliata, the three-leaf foamflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Saxifragaceae. The specific name trifoliata means "having three leaflets", a characteristic of two of the three recognized varieties. Also known as the laceflower or sugar-scoop, the species is found in shaded, moist woods in western North America.
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum is a species of flowering plant in the aster family (Asteraceae). Commonly known as calico aster, starved aster, and white woodland aster, it is native to eastern and central North America. It is a perennial and herbaceous plant that may reach heights up to 120 centimeters and widths up to 30 centimeters.
Eriophorum gracile is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It is known by the common name slender cottongrass, or slender cottonsedge. Eriophorum gracile is a plant with circumboreal distribution, extending south into mountain ranges of the Northern Hemisphere. It grows in wet areas such as bogs.
Desmodium paniculatum, the panicled-leaf ticktrefoil, narrow-leaf tick-trefoil or panicled tickclover, is a perennial herb in the pea family, Fabaceae. Belonging to a nearly cosmopolitan genus, the panicled-leaf ticktrefoil is a common native to Eastern North America, ranging from Quebec to Florida and as far West as Texas, Nebraska, and Ontario. The sticky loment can be found in disturbed areas that receive plenty of light, such as roadsides, parks, and abandoned fields.
Eriophorum viridicarinatum is a species of sedge known by the common names thinleaf cottonsedge, green-keeled cottongrass, and bog cottongrass. It is native to Canada and the United States.
Eriophorum scheuchzeri is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family known by the common names Scheuchzer's cottongrass and white cottongrass. It has an arctic circumpolar and circumboreal distribution in the Northern Hemisphere. It can be found in Alaska, across Canada, in the Arctic islands, Greenland, Iceland, and across Eurasia. Disjunct occurrences exist in the Rocky Mountains, in the high mountains of southern Europe and on Mount Daisetsu in Japan and some other Asian mountains.
Cardamine angustata is a perennial forb native to the eastern United States, that produces white to pink or purple flowers in early spring.
Arisaema quinatum is a species of flowering plant in the arum family Araceae. It is a member of the Arisaema triphyllum complex, a group of closely related taxa in eastern North America. The specific name quinatum means "divided into five lobes", a reference to its characteristic leaves. It is commonly known as the southern Jack-in-the-pulpit but some refer to it as Preacher John.
Symphyotrichum oolentangiense, commonly known as skyblue aster and azure aster, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae native to eastern North America.
Eriophorum latifolium, commonly known as broad-leaved bog-cotton and broad leaved cotton grass is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Cyperaceae.
Heracleum sibiricum is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. It is native to Europe and western Asia, ranging from France and Italy to western Siberia and Mongolia.
Cardamine incisa is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family Brassicaceae.
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 into 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. The common name refers to the tawny color of its fruiting head. Despite the name, it is a sedge, not a grass, and it is sometimes called tawny cottonsedge to emphasize this fact.
Eriophorum tenellum is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family Cyperaceae.