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