Practical
Plants

Eriophorum angustifolium

Cotton Grass

a perennial member of the Eriophorum genus in the family Cyperaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young stem bases - raw or cooked[6]. Usually cooked and eaten with oil[8]. Root - raw or cooked[8]. The blackish covering should be removed[6].

Plant part
Root
Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves and roots are considerably astringent and have been used in the past as a treatment for diarrhoea[9]. Some native North American Indian tribes would eat the stems raw in order to restore good health to people in generally poor health[8].

Product or use
Astringent

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The cottony seed hairs are used to make candle wicks[9][3][2][6]. They are also used for stuffing pillows[9][10][4], paper making etc and as a tinder[10]. 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[9]. The dried leaves and stems have been woven into soft mats or covers[8].

Product or use
Paper
Product or use
Stuffing
Product or use
Tinder
Product or use
Weaving
Product or use
Wick

Environment

Range
Arctic and temperate regions of Europe, including Britain, to Siberia and N. America.
Habitat
Peat bogs, acid meadows and marshes[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow in situ in spring in a moist soil in light shade. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 6 weeks at 15°c[7]. 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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires boggy conditions or a pond margin and an acid soil[1][5]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Quite invasive.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

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  3. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  4. Carruthers. S. P. (Editor) Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading 1986-00-00 ISBN 0704909820

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  5. Grounds. R. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-1219-9

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  6. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  8. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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