Home/Species/ Sheathed Cotton-grass

Eriophorum callitrix

Cham. ex C.A. Mey.

Sheathed Cotton-grass

G5Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G5SecureGlobal Rank

Least concernIUCN

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.137540

Element CodePMCYP0A050

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

IUCNLeast concern

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassMonocotyledoneae

OrderCyperales

FamilyCyperaceae

GenusEriophorum

Other Common Names

Arctic Cottongrass (EN) Beautiful Cottongrass (EN) Linaigrette à belle crinière (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 Date2016-07-15

Change Date1984-04-24

Ecology & Habitat

Description

Sheathed Cotton-grass is a grass-like perennial with dense clusters of erect stems that are 8-25 cm high. The stiff leaves are 1-2 mm wide and grouped near the base. The upper leaves have reduced blades and broad sheaths that surround the stem. Flowers are borne in a solitary head-like spikelet at the stem tips that resembles a ball of cotton and is 15-25 mm high. Each flower consists of a lance-shaped, greenish black scale and numerous long, shining, white bristles at the base of the ovary. The seeds are ca. 2 mm long, and mature bristles are ca. 2 cm long.

Diagnostic Characteristics

The combination of the solitary spikelet and the tufted, non-rhizomatous habit separate this species from all other ERIOPHORUM in our area.

Other Nations (2)

United StatesNNR

Province	Rank	Native
Montana	S2	Yes
Wyoming	S1	Yes
Alaska	SNR	Yes

CanadaN5

Province	Rank	Native
Labrador	S3	Yes
Ontario	S2	Yes
Nunavut	S4	Yes
Island of Newfoundland	S2	Yes
Yukon Territory	S4	Yes
Northwest Territories	S4	Yes
Manitoba	S2	Yes
Quebec	S4	Yes
British Columbia	S5	Yes
Alberta	S2	Yes

Plant Characteristics

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (2)

Montana (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Line Creek Plateau	Custer National Forest	24,825

Wyoming (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Beartooth Proposed Wilderness	Shoshone National Forest	16,837

References (1)

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.