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Trichophorum alpinum

(L.) Pers.

Alpine Cotton-grass

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.159344
Element CodePMCYP0A010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusTrichophorum
Synonyms
Eriophorum alpinumL.Scirpus hudsonianus(Michx.) Fern.
Other Common Names
alpine bulrush (EN) Alpine Bulrush (EN) Trichophore des Alpes (FR)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-03-03
Change Date1984-04-24
Range Extent Comments
Circumboreal, extending south to Conn., Mich., Sask., nw Montana, and southern British Columbia, barely reaching the range at the head of the Kootenai Drainage (Trout Lake) in B.C.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Hudson's Bay Bulrush is a glabrous, grass-like perennial with clustered, 3-sided stems that are 1-4 dm high and arising from a short rhizome. Leaves are clustered near the base and have sheaths and short blades that are 5-12 mm long. Several flowers are spirally arranged in a single, short, spike-like, terminal cluster, or spikelet, that is 5-7 mm long and subtended by a long-tipped scale. Each flower consists of a single brown scale narrowed to a broad, blunt tip subtending 3 stamens and an ovary with 6 white bristles that greatly surpass the scale. These bristles form a silky tuft that extends 1-2 cm beyond the spikelet at maturity. The brown, 3-sided achene is ca. 1.5 mm long.

Diagnostic Characteristics

The solitary spikelet and tuft of long bristles make this species resemble a slender ERIOPHORUM; however, species of true cottongrass have at least 10 bristles per achene.

Habitat

Sphagnum bogs and other very wet places.
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDBog/fen
Other Nations (2)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
New HampshireSNRYes
VermontS4Yes
MontanaS2Yes
WisconsinS4Yes
New YorkS5Yes
New JerseySNRYes
MassachusettsSNRYes
AlaskaSNRYes
WashingtonSNRYes
MichiganSNRYes
Rhode IslandSHYes
MaineSNRYes
IdahoS1Yes
ConnecticutSHYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
QuebecS5Yes
Nova ScotiaS4Yes
SaskatchewanS4Yes
LabradorS4Yes
New BrunswickS4Yes
Prince Edward IslandS1Yes
AlbertaS3Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS4Yes
Yukon TerritoryS4Yes
NunavutS2Yes
OntarioS5Yes
ManitobaS5Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Minnesota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Phantom LakeSuperior National Forest6,521
References (5)
  1. Bursik, R. J. 1992. Field investigations of sensitive plant taxa occurring on the Priest Lake Ranger District, Kanisku National Forest, Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Conservation Data Center, Boise. 141 pp. plus appendices.
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 23. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 608 pp.
  3. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  5. Maguire, B. 1939. Distribution notes concerning plants of Glacier National Park, Montana - II. Rhodora. 41: 504-508.