Inflorescence
This is Common Cottongrass, that is not a grass (sorry). It grows in acidic wetlands and peat bogs all over northern parts of Europe, Asia and North America. The flowering stems are 20-70 centimeters tall (8-28 inches) and have three to five inflorescences hanging from the top.
It is common in the Manchester area of the UK and is the official county flower of the Greater Manchester region. Cottongrass is very important for hikers. It's a great indicator of potentially dangerous deep peat bogs.
This photo was taken in Ireland in the region of Connemara where there is still a lot of peat being harvested by private owners.
For more I-words from around the world, please check out ABC Wednesday and join in the fun!
Photo taken in June 2008 by my father
Photo taken in June 2008 by my father
I learned something new again this week, I never heard of that grass before. Enjoy your week.
ReplyDeletea fun take!
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of this either and I, too, got to learn something else new! I love it when that happens! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Hmmm. A grass that is not a grass - how INACCURATE! :) Thank you for this INFORMATIVE post.
ReplyDeleteThe third new thing I've learned today. Of course I've forgotten what the other two were.
ReplyDeleteInflorescence ...hmm ...and "cottongrass that isn't grass". Maybe this is two new things. But I know about peat bogs.
There are large peat bogs near the mouth of the Fraser River in British Columbia. When I lived in the suburbs and commuted to Vancouver, I passed by Burns Bog on my way to work.
Once, when my father and I were traveling together to work the 10pm - 6am shift at Pacific Press in Vancouver, we were heading home in the dark and the fog, only to find the bog was on fire.
The smoke mixed with the fog and visibility was zero.
No one had cellular phones in those days, and we were on the freeway, so we had no way to let Mother know I'd be late taking Dad home. We were glad, however, not to be driving separately. We were several hours late, but not lonely.
My car crept along verrry slowly until we were finally able to see where we were going.
--K
Now I if I ever get across the pond, I'll know how to avoid bogs :)
ReplyDeleteofficial flower of Greater Manchester eh - I live in Greater Manchester and didn't know that!
ReplyDeleteThanks for some interesting information. I learned something new today.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week Mara.
No peat here but I love the looks of this plant. That's great information to know for hikers and walkers alike.
ReplyDeleteThat's different. Awesome if it warns people about the area, that's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI see.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! Like the canary in the mine warning. Hm. Thanks for posting this - I had no idea!
ReplyDeleteWell then, I learned something new today - and that's a good thing! lol
ReplyDeleteNew Knowledge, and great to know that this plant has such a practical use in warning of danger.
ReplyDeleteso that's what it's called!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
Weer iets nieuws geleerd! Again something new that I learned today!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit. The article about the boat of Wubbo Ockels was on TV when Sail Amsterdam was going on. So you could easily have missed it!
Fortunately I don't have to mow it, lol ! And I too learned something new !
ReplyDeleteI don't ever remember seeing this before. I would love to be able to take a closer look, but right now I'm living in the wrong part of the world for marshy bogs. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this plant, but it looks very Interesting. The fact that it can serve as a warning to hikers is just another wonderful thing about nature we take for granted.
ReplyDelete