Species: Eriophorum scheuchzeri Hoppe

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Eriophorum scheuchzeri Hoppe

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Cyperaceae

Genus:

Eriophorum

Species Synonyms:

Eriophorum scheuchzeri var. tanuifolium Ohwi

Common Names:

white cottongrass
white cottonsedge
Scheuchzer’s cottongrass

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

Mackenzie District – Keewatin District– Arctic Island, south to British Columbia – southwestern Alberta – northern Saskatchewan – northern Ontario – Quebec – Labrador – northwestern Newfoundland

Saskatchewan:

northern Saskatchewan; Lake Athabasca – Trade Lake

Ecoregion:

Churchill River Upland, Athabasca Plain

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

shore fens and treed bogs

Associated species:

black spruce, tamarack

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

White cottongrass is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is extremely rare and is limited to the northern part of the province. This species is usually numerous within limited localized areas. No immediate threats are known for white cottongrass.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

5 – 40 cm

Roots:

rhizomes creeping

Culms:

solitary or few, < 1 mm wide

Leaves:

basal leaf sheaths persistent, brown or reddish; one bladeless sheath above basal sheaths, black-tipped; blades 3 – 12 cm long, channelled or inrolled

Inflorescence:

spikelet solitary, erect, bract absent

Spikelets:

8 – 12 mm long, ovoid to nearly spherical; scales 4 – 10 mm long, lowest scale may be somewhat enlarged, up to 7 lower scales may be sterile, oval to lance-shaped, gray to blackish-green, margins narrow and pale

Flowers:

perianth bristles more than 10, 15 – 30 mm long, bright white, sometimes red-tinged

Achenes:

< 2.5 mm long, narrowly oblong, beaked

ERIOPHORUM KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Spikelets solitary; bract absent, lowest scale may be enlarged and appear bract-like	2
1 Spikelets 2 or more; bract present, leaf-like	5

2 Stems solitary or few; up to 7 lower spikelet scales sterile	3
2 Stems tufted; 10 – 15 lower spikelet scales sterile	4

3 Perianth bristles bright white, occasionally red-tinged; scales gray to black with narrow pale margins	E. scheuchzeri
3 Perianth bristles red-brown to white; scales brown to black with wide translucent margins	E. chamissonis

4 At least some scales spreading or reflexed in fruit, lower scales white-margined; perianth bristles pure white	E. vaginata
4 All scales appressed to ascending in fruit, lower scales not white-margined; perianth bristles whitish or brownish	E. brachyantherum

5 Inflorescence with 2 – 5 blade-bearing bracts; leaves > 1.5 mm wide	6
5 Inflorescence with 1 blade-bearing bract; leaves < 1.5 mm wide	7

6 Scales with midrib prominent to tip	E. viridicarinatum
6 Scales with midrib not reaching tip	E. angustifolium

7 Scales without lateral ribs; anthers 2 – 5 mm long	E. angustifolium
7 Scales with lateral ribs; anthers 1 – 2 mm long	E. gracile