Eriophorum angustifolium - Cotton Grass

Family:	Cyperaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Width:	1
Synonyms:	E. polystachion.
Range:	Arctic and temperate regions of Europe, including Britain, to Siberia and N. America.

Eriophorum angustifolium (Cotton Grass) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m and a width of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 4and is vunerable to frost.
Cotton Grass will flower in November to December. the seeds ripen from January to February
The flowers from this plant are monoecious (both sexes are found on the plant but each flower is either male or female) and they are pollinated by Wind

Soil Information

Cotton Grass will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
Cotton Grass prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Cotton Grass can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Peat bogs, acid meadows and marshes[13].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Requires boggy conditions or a pond margin and an acid soil[1, 162]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Quite invasive.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Young stem bases - raw or cooked[172]. Usually cooked and eaten with oil[257]. Root - raw or cooked[257]. The blackish covering should be removed[172].

• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
• Stem - this often intergrades into leaves.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The leaves and roots are considerably astringent and have been used in the past as a treatment for diarrhoea[4]. Some native North American Indian tribes would eat the stems raw in order to restore good health to people in generally poor health[257].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in spring in a moist soil in light shade. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 6 weeks at 15°c[200]. If the seed is in short supply it can be sown in pots in a cold frame. Place the pots in a try of water to keep the compost moist. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, the divisions can be replanted direct into their permanent positions.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

The cottony seed hairs are used to make candle wicks[4, 13, 100, 172]. They are also used for stuffing pillows[4, 74, 141], paper making etc and as a tinder[74]. Experiments have been made in using the hairs as a cotton substitute, but they are more brittle than cotton and do not bear twisting so well[4]. The dried leaves and stems have been woven into soft mats or covers[257].

• Paper - Related to the entry for Fibre, these plants have been specifically mentioned for paper making.
• Stuffing - Used in making soft toys, mattresses, pillows etc.
• Tinder - Used for starting fires. See also Kindling.
• Weaving - Items such as grass and palm leaves that are woven together for making mats, baskets etc. See also Basket making and Fibre.
• Wick - Used as a wick for candles, lamps etc.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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