Family – Eriocaulaceae
Stems:
N/A
Leaves:
Basal leaves.
Sheathing leaf of flowering scape.
Inflorescence:
N/A
Flowers:
Involucre of flower head.
Flowering – April – October.
Habitat – Bogs, marshes, wet flatwoods, wet ditches.
Origin – Native to North America.
Other information – This attractive species can be found in the southern 1/4 of Alabama. The plant can be identified by its flat basal leaves (which are attenuate), tall flowering scapes, and cottony white heads of flowers. Another species, E. decangulare L. is similar but has involucre bracts which are longer than the flowers and pointed at he apices. This latter species also has hardened flower heads that are hard to press flat and obtuse basal leaves.
The genus name Eriocaulon derives from the Greek “erio” meaning “wool” and “caul(o)” meaning “a stem” referring to the woolly hairs at the base of the flowering scape in the original species.
The species epithet compressum means “flattened sideways” typically referring to a stem. In this case it probably refers to the ability of the flower heads of this species to be flattened when pressed.
Alabama Distribution:
Photographs taken off Hwy 98, Wakulla County, FL., 3-29-05.