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Eriophorum

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Eriophorum
Eriophorum vaginatum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Eriophorum
L.
Type species
Eriophorum vaginatum
Synonyms[2]
Heterotypic synonyms
    • Eriophoropsis Palla
    • Leucoma Ehrh.
    • Linagrostis Guett.
    • Plumaria Bubani
    • Plumaria Heist. ex Fabr.

Eriophorum (cottongrass, cotton-grass or cottonsedge) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cyperaceae, the sedge family. They are found throughout the arctic, subarctic, and temperate portions of the Northern Hemisphere in acid bog habitats, being particularly abundant in Arctic tundra regions.[3][4][5]

Description

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They are herbaceous perennial plants with slender, grass-like leaves. The seed heads are covered in a fluffy mass of cotton-like fibers which are carried on the wind to aid dispersal. The cotton grass also maintains a height of 12 inches and around 2 inches in water. In cold Arctic regions, these masses of translucent fibres also serve as 'down' – increasing the temperature of the reproductive organs during the Arctic summer by trapping solar radiation.[6]

Taxonomy

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In the first edition of Species Plantarum published in 1753, Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus established genus Eriophorum by recognizing four species, Eriophorum vaginatum, Eriophorum polystachion, Eriophorum virginicum, and Eriophorum alpinum.[7][8] In the second edition published in 1762, Linnaeus added a fifth species, Eriophorum cyperinum.[9]

Species

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As of August 2024, the following species and natural hybrids are accepted by Plants of the World Online (POWO):[2]

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 × beringianum Raymond
(E. angustifolium × E. chamissonis) 		1957 1957 Alaska including Aleutians; Magadan region of Russia
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 × 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 gracile Roth[10] 1799 1799 Much of Europe; northern and Central Asia; China, Tibet, Mongolia, Alaska, Canada, northern United States
Eriophorum × gracilifolium M.S.Novos.
(E. gracile × E. latifolium) 		1994 1994 European Russia
Eriophorum humile Turcz. 1838 1838 Altai, Tuva, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Amur
Eriophorum latifolium Hoppe 1801 1801 Much of Europe; Caucasus, Turkey, Mongolia
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
Eriophorum scheuchzeri Hoppe 1801 1801 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

World Flora Online (WFO) accepts all of the above species except Eriophorum arcticum.[11] In addition, WFO accepts Eriophorum × polystachiovaginatum whereas POWO does not.

Other names

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Of the five species described by Linnaeus in 1753 and 1762, three of the names are no longer in use. Eriophorum polystachion L. is a rejected name,[12] now considered to be a synonym for Eriophorum angustifolium Honck. subsp. angustifolium,[13] while Eriophorum alpinum L. and Eriophorum cyperinum L. are synonyms for Trichophorum alpinum (L.) Pers. and Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth, respectively.[14][15]

The Swedish mycologist and botanist Elias Magnus Fries described Eriophorum russeolum in 1836.[16] Some authors consider Eriophorum russeolum Fr. to be a synonym for Eriophorum chamissonis C.A.Mey.,[17][18] while others consider the two names to refer to separate species.[19][20][21]

In 1942, the American agrostologist and botanist Alan Ackerman Beetle placed the species Scirpus criniger A.Gray into genus Eriophorum.[22] 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.[23]

In 1957, the Canadian botanist Louis-Florent-Marcel Raymond placed the species Scirpus scabriculmis Beetle into genus Eriophorum.[24] In 2019, Eriophorum scabriculme (Beetle) Raymond was segregated into genus Trichophorum.[25] Hence Eriophorum scabriculme is a synonym for Trichophorum scabriculme (Beetle) J.R.Starr, Lév.-Bourret & B.A.Ford.[26]

The invalidly published name Eriophorum × polystachiovaginatum Beauverd is a synonym for Eriophorum × beauverdii Soó but the latter is unplaced by POWO.[27]

Subdivision

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In 1849, the Swedish botanist and traveller Nils Johan Andersson placed the European species of Eriophorum into two new sections:[28]

Eriophorum section Vaginata:[29]

  • Eriophorum vaginatum
  • Eriophorum capitatum (a synonym for Eriophorum scheuchzeri)
  • Eriophorum russeolum (a synonym for Eriophorum chamissonis)

Eriophorum section Phyllanthela:[30]

  • Eriophorum angustifolium
  • Eriophorum latifolium
  • Eriophorum gracile

In 1905, the American botanist Merritt Lyndon Fernald placed the North American species of Eriophorum into Andersson's sections as follows:[31]

Eriophorum section Vaginata:

  • Eriophorum scheuchzeri
  • Eriophorum chamissonis
  • Eriophorum vaginatum
  • Eriophorum callitrix
  • Eriophorum opacum n. comb. (a synonym for Eriophorum brachyantherum)

Eriophorum section Phyllanthela:

  • Eriophorum gracile
  • Eriophorum tenellum
  • Eriophorum polystachion (a synonym for Eriophorum angustifolium)
  • Eriophorum viridicarinatum n. comb.
  • Eriophorum virginicum

Phylogeny

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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, there has been insufficient data for a majority of botanists to prefer one option or the other.[32][33]

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.[34]

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.[34]

Uses

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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.[35]

References

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  1. ^ "Eriophorum". Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Eriophorum L.". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  3. ^ Ball, Peter W.; Wujek, Daniel E. (2002). "Eriophorum". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 23. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 20 August 2024 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  4. ^ Flora Europaea: Eriophorum
  5. ^ Liang, Prof. Song-Yun; Tucker, Gordon C.; Simpson, David A. "Eriophorum". Flora of China. Vol. 23. Retrieved 20 August 2024 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  6. ^ Crawford, R. M. M. (1989). Studies in Plant Survival. Blackwell Science. pp. 54–55.
  7. ^ Linnaeus (1753), Vol. 1, pp. 52–53.
  8. ^ "Eriophorum L.". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  9. ^ Linnaeus (1762), Vol. 1, pp. 76–77.
  10. ^ "Eriophorum gracile Roth". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Eriophorum L.". WFO Plant List. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  12. ^ Ball, Peter W.; Wujek, Daniel E. (2002). "Eriophorum angustifolium". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 23. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 22 August 2024 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  13. ^ "Eriophorum polystachion L.". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Eriophorum alpinum L.". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Eriophorum cyperinum L.". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Eriophorum russeolum Fr.". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  17. ^ Ball, Peter W.; Wujek, Daniel E. (2002). "Eriophorum chamissonis". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 23. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 30 August 2024 – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  18. ^ "Eriophorum russeolum Fr.". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  19. ^ Raymond (1954).
  20. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Eriophorum". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  21. ^ "Eriophorum". State-level distribution maps from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Eriophorum crinigerum (A.Gray) Beetle". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Eriophorum crinigerum (A.Gray) Beetle". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  24. ^ "Eriophorum scabriculme (Beetle) Raymond". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  25. ^ Starr et al. (2019), pp. 20–25.
  26. ^ "Eriophorum scabriculme (Beetle) Raymond". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Eriophorum × beauverdii Soó". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  28. ^ Andersson (1849), pp. 11–14.
  29. ^ "Eriophorum sect. Vaginata Andersson". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Eriophorum sect. Phyllanthela Andersson". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  31. ^ Fernald (1905a).
  32. ^ Léveillé-Bourret (2018), pp. 7, 36–37, 42, 222.
  33. ^ Larridon et al. (2021), pp. 873.
  34. ^ a b Léveillé-Bourret (2018), pp. 28, 35–36, 42.
  35. ^ This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Cotton-Grass" . Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.

Bibliography

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eriophorum.
Wikispecies has information related to Eriophorum.
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