Cotton Grass------ Eriophorum scheuchzeri

The name "cotton Grass" is a misnomer in that it's not cotton and it's not a grass. It is a member of the sedge family (Cyperaceae). It belongs to the genus Eriophorum and includes several species in Alaska. Once Rick and I saw them growing in open or coniferous bogs, there was no way to mistake them for any other plant.When you see cotton grass its always in large colonies which is due to the tough rhizomes found just under the sphagnum moss or mud. The flower does not contain petals or sepals, instead cotton grass has long white colored bristles....the cotton in cotton grass. The fruit is a tiny achene which is dispersed by the cotton bristles. It is to hot to grow cotton grass in Georgia, but if you do, be sure to grow it in pot with peat moss. Cotton grass was found growing in the Okefenoke back in the 192o's or 1930's.