Eriophorum vaginatum

Eriophorum vaginatum is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family Cyperaceae. It occurs throughout the subarctic and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It prefers wet, acidic, peaty soil and is often dominant in bogs, poor fens, and the Arctic tundra regions of northern Russia and Canada. The specific epithet vaginatum, which means "having a sheath", refers to an important character used to recognize this species. Both the scientific name Eriophorum vaginatum and the common name sheathed cottonsedge emphasize this fact. In Britain and Ireland (and elsewhere), the species is referred to as hare's-tail cottongrass (or simply hare's-tail). The name tussock cottongrass gained in popularity after its publication in Flora of North America in 2002. Eriophorum vaginatum is a member of the unispicate group of cottongrasses since it has one (not multiple) spikelets. It is similar in appearance to the unispicate species Eriophorum brachyantherum and Eriophorum callitrix, all thr......read more on Wikipedia.