Cotton Grass

When driving through East Iceland and indeed most parts of Iceland in summer, the white tufts or clumps of cotton grass attract attention. These white tufts are hairs surrounding the flowers of the cotton grass, which sit together in one or more spikes at the end of the stems. The hairs elongate as the flower matures, and the fully matured seed is surrounded by two to three cm long floating hairs or seed wool that help with seed dispersal when they fall off the plant. The Latin genus name for cotton grass species is *Eriophorum*, which could be translated as wool bearer.

In Iceland, there are two species of cotton grass: *Eriophorum scheuchzeri* and *Eriophorum angustifolium*. *Eriophorum scheuchzeri* is often seen along roads because it frequently grows in areas disturbed by road construction in wet conditions. It actually grows in all kinds of semi-wet land, such as riverbanks, by streams, and pond edges. It is a perennial herb with one round spike per stem, resembling a white head, and often grows densely, forming white patches. *Eriophorum scheuchzeri* is common throughout Iceland and the Arctic. In Europe, it is found in northern Scandinavia, along the Arctic coast of Russia, and in mountainous areas further south. *Eriophorum angustifolium* grows in various types of wetlands, such as wet meadows, marshes, and ditches, and often dominates large areas. It is a tall perennial herb with four to six drooping spikes per stem. The leaves of *Eriophorum angustifolium* are often notably glossy brown or reddish, especially at the tip, which is three-sided and often curved. From a distance, it is often possible to tell which species it is: *Eriophorum scheuchzeri* usually grows densely, forming white patches, while *Eriophorum angustifolium* does not grow as densely, making the tufts more spaced out and giving the vegetation a reddish-brown tinge due to the leaf colour. *Eriophorum angustifolium* is common throughout Iceland and across the northern hemisphere.

Grazing animals eat *Eriophorum angustifolium* in summer, and hay was made from it in wet meadows when haymaking was common in rural areas in earlier centuries. The cotton wool was used to make wicks for lamps, coals, and candles, and it appears that *Eriophorum angustifolium* was mainly used, though both species are mentioned in sources. It was necessary to gather enough cotton wool in summer when the seed wool was mature, which must have been time-consuming as the tufts are small. First, the cotton grass or wool had to be plucked from the heads and cleaned of seeds and debris, then it was twisted into a bundle and "looped" or stretched into lengths and twisted, measured against the fingers to the appropriate length, the ends folded together and twisted. This was done by hand, not spun on a spindle. Cotton wool was also sometimes used in pillows and cushions, and even in quilts, though it was said to wear out quickly and deteriorate. There are also records of cotton wool being spun with sheep's wool into yarn and knitted. Additionally, *Eriophorum angustifolium* was used as a poultice for boils, reducing swelling and pus. If cotton grass was abundant, it was believed to predict a harsh, snowy winter ahead.