Eriocaulon compressum - (image 1 of 5)
Taxonomy
Family: Eriocaulaceae
Habitat
Still, shallow water. This specimen was found growing on a sphagnum mat bordering a river in the NJ Pine Barrens.
Associates
This plant was growing with Sphagnum spp., Drosera rotundifolia, Drosera intermedia, Iris versicolor, Sarracenia purpurea, Viola lanceolata, Vaccinium macrocarpon.
Distribution
Southern NJ south to FL and TX.
Morphology
Perennial. Leaves all basal, short, acuminate, parallel-nerved. Scapes with a long sheathing bract at the base, to 3' high, 10-12 angled. The leaves are shorter than the bract at the base of the scape. Heads of flowers white, woolly, 3"-6" in diameter. Fruit a thin-walled capsule.
Notes
Flowers May to October
Wetland Indicator: Obligate
It took me awhile to figure that the sheath used in comparison to the leaves is not part of the leaf but part of the scape. After that, it was pretty easy to make the ID. This is a really interesting species, quite unmistakable.
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Michael Hough © 2004 |