Scabbard cotton-grass

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Scabbard cotton-grass
Vaginal cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum).

Vaginal cottongrass ( Eriophorum vaginatum ).

Systematics
Monocots
Commelinids
Order : Sweet grass (Poales)
Family : Sourgrass family (Cyperaceae)
Genre : Cottongrass ( Eriophorum )
Type : Scabbard cotton-grass
Scientific name
Eriophorum vaginatum
L.

The vaginal cottongrass ( Eriophorum vaginatum ) belongs to the sour grass family (Cyperaceae). Other common names are bog cotton-grass , Scheidiges cotton-grass or cutting cotton-grass . This plant species is a characteristic plant of the rain bogs . With its fibrous disintegrating leaves, cotton grass contributes significantly to the formation of peat . In raised bog restoration after industrial peat extraction, it takes on an important function as the first colonizer of the vegetation-free peat areas. The long flower covering threads of the fruits form the characteristic white wool of the cotton grass ( Eriophorum ).

description

Inflated leaf sheath of the scabbard cotton grass as a characteristic that gives it its name.
Vaginal cottongrass inflorescence.
Infructescence of the vaginal cottongrass.

The perennial herbaceous plant reaches heights of 10 to 60 centimeters. This hemicryptophyte does not form runners - unlike Scheuchzer's cottongrass ( Eriophorum scheuchzeri ), for example - but grows in loose to dense clumps , which in turn can form dense lawns. The upright stems have a round cross-section and are leafy; above they are smooth, gray-green and bluntly triangular. The base of the stem is surrounded by long, pinkish-brown lower leaves that dissolve in fibers. The leaf sheaths of the stem leaves are inflated; hence the name comes from. The leaf blades are bristle-shaped, up to 1 millimeter wide and rutty-triangular in cross-section. They are also gray-green and rough around the edges. They can be up to 1 meter long. They then hang over arching.

The bracts of the inflorescence are spelzenähnlich but larger. The inflorescence consists of a single, terminal, erect spikelet . The obovate or elongated spikelets reach 1 to 2 centimeters at flowering time, up to 5 centimeters in length at fruiting time and contain up to 100 flowers. Each hermaphrodite flower has three stamens ( anthers ) and three stigmas . Their silver-gray husks are lanceolate, long, pointed, single-nerved, 5 to 10 millimeters long and have a skin edge.

Fruit with umbilical filaments, lower right caryopsis, upper right husk.

The filaments of the perianth are numerous. They extend up to 2.5 centimeters after the flowering period. They later fall off with the fruits. They form the white woolly head that is characteristic of cotton grasses. Their long flower covering threads remain at the base of the caryopsis (a special form of the nut fruit) after ripening and form a flying and swimming apparatus for better distribution of the seeds in the air and in the water. The caryopsis is sharp, triangular, with a short tip, 1.9 to 3.5 millimeters long and dark red-brown to almost black. The vaginal cottongrass blooms from March to May. There is rarely a second flowering period in the months of July to September.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 58 or 60.

Distribution and location

Horst of the vaginal cottongrass ( Eriophorum vaginatum ) during the flowering period.

It is native to almost all of Europe , Asia and North America in warm temperate to arctic climates from the lowlands to at altitudes up to about 1980 meters above sea level ( planar-collinous to subalpine ). In the Allgäu Alps, the Koblat on the Nebelhorn rises up to 2010 meters above sea level. Its area largely coincides with the distribution of the peat moss-rich rain moor areas in the northern hemisphere . In the main distribution area of ​​the "classic" raised bogs in Germany, in northwest Germany , in low mountain ranges and in the Alpine foothills , the vagina cottongrass is widespread and is particularly in renaturation areas - next to the narrow-leaved cottongrass ( Eriophorum angustifolium ) - an often population-forming species distributed throughout Switzerland , but in Austria it occurs sparsely or rarely.

The sheath cottongrass grows on nutrient-poor ( oligo- to mesotrophic ), base- and lime-poor, acidic peat soils predominantly in rainy and in places also in sour bogs , in pine and birch forests as well as in secondary birch-rich " bog forests" of drained locations.

Socialization

The vaginal cottongrass is the characteristic species of the class of the raised bog societies (Oxycocco-Sphagnetea). There it grows together with the common cranberry ( Vaccinium oxycoccos ), rosemary heather ( Andromeda polifolia ) and peat moss such as Magellan's peat moss ( Sphagnum magellanicum ), brown peat moss ( Sphagnum fuscum ) and reddish peat moss ( Sphagnum rubellum ). Bulte) within the Bult-Schlenken complexes of the central raised bog areas. It also forms particularly in regeneration stages of raised bogs ( plateau rain Moore ) or rewetted raised bog renaturation species-poor Eriophorum-vaginatum -Dominanzgesellschaften (see below).

ecology

Bog birch forest on a drained raised bog. In the herb layer with scabbard cottongrass , peat moss and pipe grass ( Molinia cearulea ).
The bog beetle cicada feeds on vaginal cottongrass.
Structure of a sheath cottongrass clump.
Scabbard cotton-grass in a peat moss blanket. The peat moss is already growing into the eyrie.

The vaginal cottongrass is wind-blooming ( anemophilia ). The seeds are transported by water and wind ( anemohydrochory ). It is a semi-light plant, which means that it grows in full sun, but can also tolerate shade within limits. His ecological focus is on soaked, air-poor, acidic to very acidic soils. It winters with green leaves, which are renewed in spring.

A characteristic of vaginal cottongrass - and also many other raised bog plants - is an effective internal nutrient cycle . The nutrients required to build up the above-ground parts of the plant are shifted back to the base of the shoot during seed formation. In the following growing season , this supply can be mobilized without loss. Furthermore, an intensive rooting of the upper soil layers and the very close-fitting shoots prevent the nutrients from dead plant parts from being washed out.

If the site has a good water supply, the grass bulbs are forced to grow higher and higher by the lush peat mosses or when the water level rises (mostly in renaturation), otherwise it would be overgrown or flooded. The basic axes of the shoots then extend upwards like runners. Together with the arching overhanging leaf blades, a characteristic “cap-shaped” habit is formed .

The plant is a strong peat producer, because the thick leaf blades disintegrate into many tufts of fibers after they have died ( lignification due to lignin deposits). These are not broken down during the decomposition of organic substances, which is inhibited in raised bogs, and remain as visible residues. It is thus significantly involved in the development of raised bogs and in the formation of so-called fiber peat . In younger peat, the proportion of Eriophorum vaginatum is around five percent, in older peat significantly more.

In arctic tundra areas, especially in Alaska, the vaginal cottongrass plays a crucial role as feed for large herbivores such as reindeer as well as for lemmings , ground squirrels and geese due to its early budding and its high regenerative capacity .

For a number of butterfly species, such as the great meadow bird ( Coenonympha tullia ), there seems to be a strong connection to the occurrence of cottongrass species, especially vaginal cottongrass. Many authors, especially in the older literature, also state it as a caterpillar food plant. It is also an important food plant for the most endangered butterflies in Europe, the river valley meadow bird ( Coenonympha oedippus ).

For several other phytophagous insects, the vaginal cottongrass plays a decisive role. For example, some species of leafhoppers only suck ( monophag ) on Eriophorum vaginatum . These are for example the risk-based in Germany and exclusively in bogs (tyrphobionte) Moorkäferzikade ( Ommatidiotus dissimilis ) that Hochmoorzirpe ( Sorhoanus xanthoneurus ) and the bog-planthopper ( Nothodelphax distinctus ).

Hazard and protection

Dammed bog ditch with scabbard cotton-grass

The vaginal cottongrass is not protected by law. Within Germany, however, it is considered an endangered species in eleven federal states due to the decline and impairment of its habitats. In Austria, cottongrass is classified as not endangered nationwide. In the Bohemian Massif , in the northern and south-eastern Alpine foothills, it is regionally endangered, and in Burgenland it is even extinct. Therefore it is partially protected in some federal states. In Switzerland, it is also not considered to be at risk nationwide ( Least Concern ). However, different risk levels are given for the Central Plateau ( Vulnerable ), the Western Alps and for the Bergell and Puschlav in the Southern Alps ( Near Threatened ).

Due to the cultivation of the moors , peat extraction and eutrophication of the sites, the species has declined sharply and its potential range has been severely restricted. However, it persists in the birch-rich stages of degradation of raised bogs and is considered to be secured in the long term in rewetted and protected raised bog remains and renaturation.

Systematics

The scientific name Eriophorum vaginatum was first published in 1753 by Carl von Linné in Species Plantarum .

A distinction was made between two varieties within the species: Eriophorum vaginatum var. Spissum ( Fern. ) Boivin and Eriophorum vaginatum var. Vaginatum L. They differ in the shape of the spikelets, husk color and size of the anthers with, however, very variable transitions and intermediate forms, see above that the splitting off of two subspecies, which has taken place many times, is not recognized. According to the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families , the varieties are also not recognized.

Significance in upland moor renaturation

Fibrous tissue in peat.

It was only since the early 1980s that the protection of near-natural rain moor residues in connection with the obligation to renaturalize industrially pitted areas found a basis in various nature conservation laws and programs (e.g. the Lower Saxony moor protection program Part I 1981, the Rothenthurm Initiative Switzerland 1987, the bog development concept Bavaria 2003). Raised moor renaturations are therefore up to 25 years old.

Rain moor locations after industrial peat extraction or rain moor residues without peat removal, but prior intensive drainage, no longer have a functional akrotelm (peat formation horizon), which is essential for a balanced water balance. Furthermore, through the ventilation of the near-surface layers of soil, mineralization of the peat sets in , which leads to a higher supply of nutrients to the peat soils. The result is that more competitive plants can assert themselves. Unwanted plants in this context are blue whistle grass ( Molinia caerulea ) and bog birch ( Betula pubescens ). Their spread would prevent the development of near-natural vegetation typical of raised bogs in the long term. With regard to the succession of degraded rain bogs, various scientific studies have been and are being carried out, particularly in the main distribution area of ​​the classic arched plateau rain bogs (raised bogs), for example in the “ Leegmoor ” nature reserve and in the Diepholzer Moorniederung ( Lower Saxony ). The above-mentioned nature reserves are among the oldest scientifically monitored raised bog restorations in Europe.

The vaginal cottongrass as a pioneer plant

Scheiden cottongrass in the “Leegmoor” with peat moss growing between the cottongrass bulbs.

In order to counteract the mass spread of pipe grass and thus the development of almost closed pipe grass high grass stands, seeding and planting tests were carried out on regeneration areas in the “Leegmoor” nature reserve as part of a test and development project (E + E project) between 1983 and 1984 Typical raised bog plant species, including scabbard cottongrass as a "real" raised bog species. The experiments showed that it is an important plant for pioneering colonization of industrially mined raised bogs, especially in the initial phase of the renaturation of black peat extraction areas. On the one hand, vaginal cottongrass is evidently an assertive competitor of pipe grass, on the other hand it plays a decisive role in the repopulation of peat moss in the cleared areas, because these can only settle in protected areas that are already overgrown by plants.

In the meantime, the vaginal cottongrass has established itself on almost the entire area despite the unfavorable renaturation conditions and at the same time prevented the settlement of pipe grass on a considerable part of the area. Cottongrass is becoming more and more popular and forms a substitute society that has a similarly high dominance over other plant species as the pipegrass. In many renaturation areas in north-west Germany with mostly better starting conditions than in Leegmoor, many aspect-determining stocks of this grass have developed. Some of the plants are so dense that hardly any other species, especially peat moss, can gain a foothold. Observations show, however, that peat moss, here the spit peat moss ( Sphagnum cuspidatum ), even populates the heads of the grass bulbs when the moor water level rises, starting from gaps between the cotton grass bulbs. This does not seem to work with pipe grass, as their bulbs may be too high. Casparie (1972) was also able to show that when the moor water level rises, the peat moss is even able to displace the cottongrass.

The vaginal cottongrass as a diasporic catcher and "nurse plant" for the bog birch

Dominance society of the Scheiden cottongrass with the beginning of bush encroachment with bog birch trees

In 1999, extensive investigations into the spread of the bog birch ( Betula pubescens ) in peat areas, rewetted areas and near-natural raised bog areas were carried out in the Diepholz moorland . The high water requirement of this tree in connection with high evaporation leads to an undesirable loss of water. The experiments showed that the vaginal cottongrass has a crucial function as a so-called "nurse plant" and diaspore catcher for the bog birch. For example, more than 500 seedlings and young plants of the bog birch were found under bulbs of around 40 centimeters in diameter with overhanging leaves. The seeds of the birch trees are carried by the wind, depending on the main wind direction, as well as over the water by overflow. These get caught in the leaves and remain under the clumps. They germinate next spring. As nurse plants, the grass bulbs offer protection against dehydration and mechanical effects (kick, wind and hailstones), so that the seeds can germinate and develop undisturbed. In order to counteract the undesired succession to marsh birch bushes and forests, the woody growth is mechanically removed from areas that are not optimally rewetted ( dekusselings ). When the water levels are constantly close to the ground surface in rewetting , which are often difficult to produce, the bog birch trees usually die.

use

Fruiting vaginal cottongrass ( Eriophorum vaginatum ) in a raised bog renaturation

In folk medicine, the "wool" of the fruit hair was previously used as cotton wool. The wool heads were also used to fill pillows. They were also turned into lamp wicks.

In horticulture, besides other types of cotton grass, vaginal cotton grass is used in so-called bog beds.

swell

literature

  • WA Casparie : Bog development in southeastern Drenthe (The Netherlands). In: Vegetatio. Vol. 24, No. 4-6, 1972, pp. 1-272, DOI: 10.1007 / BF02675415 .
  • Klaus Dierssen, Barbara Dierssen: Moore. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3245-1 .
  • Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora . With the collaboration of Theo Müller. 7th, revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1994, ISBN 3-8252-1828-7 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Peter W. Ball, Daniel E. Wujek: Eriophorum. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee (Ed.): Flora of North America North of Mexico . Volume 23: Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae . Oxford University Press, New York / Oxford a. a. 2002, ISBN 0-19-515207-7 , Eriophorum vaginatum , p. 26 (English, online ).
  2. ↑ Jürke Grau , Bruno P. Kremer, Bodo M. Möseler, Gerhard Rambold, Dagmar Triebel: Grasses. Sweet grasses, sour grasses, rushes and grass-like families in Europe (=  Steinbach's natural guide ). New, edit. Special edition edition. Mosaik, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-576-10702-9 .
  3. ↑ Erhard Dörr, Wolfgang Lippert : Flora of the Allgäu and its surroundings. Volume 1, IHW, Eching 2001, ISBN 3-930167-50-6 , p. 218.
  4. ↑ Erich Oberdorfer : South German Plant Societies. Part I: Rock and wall communities, alpine corridors, water, silting and moor communities. 4th edition. Gustav Fischer, Jena / Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-437-35280-6 .
  5. ↑ Heinz Ellenberg , H. E. Weber, R. Düll, V. Wirth, W. Werner, D. Paulißen: Pointer values ​​of plants in Central Europe (= Scripta Geobotanica. Volume 18). 2nd, improved and enlarged edition. Erich Goltze, Göttingen 1992, ISBN 3-88452-518-2 .
  6. ↑ Claus-Peter Hutter (eds.), Alois Kapfer, Peter Poschlod: Swamps and Moore - Recognize, determine, protect biotopes (= Weitbrecht biotope determination books ). Weitbrecht, Stuttgart / Vienna / Bern 1997, ISBN 3-522-72060-1 .
  7. ^ H. Joosten, Michael Succow : Landschaftsökologische Moorkunde. E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlag Buchhandlung, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-510-65198-7 .
  8. ↑ A. Petersen: The sour grasses. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1989, ISBN 3-05-500257-1 .
  9. ↑ S. Archer, L. L. Tieszen: Effects of simulated grazing on foliage and root production and biomass allocation in arctic tundra sedge (Eriophorum vaginatum). In: Oecologia. Volume 58, No. 1, 1983, pp. 92-102, DOI: 10.1007 / BF00384547 .
  10. ↑ Threatened species in wetlands and their claims (accessed on July 16, 2006)  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / scholar.google.at  
  11. ^ HJ Weidemann: Butterfly - observe, determine. Naturbuch, Augsburg 1995, ISBN 3-89440-115-X .
  12. ^ Elke Freese, Robert Biedermann: Typhobionte and tyrphophilic cicadas (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha) in the raised bog remains of the Weser-Ems region (Germany, Lower Saxony). In: Contributions to the cicada. Volume 8, 2005, ISSN  1434-2065 , pp. 5–28 (PDF file; 295 kB) .
  13. ^ Scabbard cotton-grass. In: FloraWeb.de. (accessed on July 15, 2006).
  14. ^ Manfred A. Fischer, Wolfgang Adler, Karl Oswald: Excursion flora for Austria, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol . 2nd, improved and enlarged edition. State of Upper Austria, Biology Center of the Upper Austrian State Museums, Linz 2005, ISBN 3-85474-140-5 .
  15. ↑ Harald Niklfeld: Red List of Endangered Plants Austria. 2nd Edition. Green series of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Youth and Family, Vienna 1999, ISBN 3-85333-028-2 .
  16. ^ D. Moser, A. Gygax, B. Bäumler, N. Wyler, R. Palese: Red list of endangered species in Switzerland: fern and flowering plants . Federal Office for the Environment, Forests and Landscape, Bern; Center of the data network of the Swiss flora, Chambésy; Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Chambésy, 2002, p. 62 ( Page no longer available , search in web archives: (PDF file; 1194 kB) ).@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.bafu.admin.ch
  17. ↑ Klaus Kaplan: Ferns and flowering plants of nutrient-poor wetlands. Current distribution and situation in northwest Westphalia. In: Metelner series of publications for nature conservation. Volume 3, 1992, ISSN  0936-7357 , pp. 1-118.
  18. ↑ Carl von Linné: Species Plantarum. Volume 1, Lars Salvius, Stockholm 1753, p. 52 ( digitized versionhttp: //vorlage_digitalisat.test/1%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.biodiversitylibrary.org%2Fopenurl%3Fpid%3Dtitle%3A669%26volume%3D1%26issue%3D%26spage%3D52%26date%3D1753~GB%3D~ IA% 3D ~ MDZ% 3D% 0A ~ SZ% 3D ~ double-sided% 3D ~ LT% 3D ~ PUR% 3D ).
  19. ↑ Eriophorum vaginatum. In: International Organization for Plant Information Provisional Global Plant Checklist IOPI , accessed August 4, 2006
  20. ↑ Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Eriophorum vaginatum. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  21. ^ KJ Nick, J. Blankenburg, R. Eggelsmann, HE Weber, D. Mossakowski, R. Beinhauer, J. Lienemann: Contributions to the rewetting of degraded black peat areas. In: (= Nature Conservation and Landscape Management Lower Saxony. Volume 29). Hannover 1993, ISBN 3-922321-66-6 , pp. 1–127.
  22. ↑ KJ Nick, F.-J. Löpmeier, H. Schiff, J. Blankenburg, H. Gebhardt, C. Knapke, HE Weber, H. Främbs, D. Mossakowski: Moor regeneration in the Leegmoor / Emsland after black peat extraction and rewetting (= applied landscape ecology. Volume 38). Bad Godesberg 2001, ISBN 3-7843-3713-9 , pp. 1-204.
  23. ^ J. Daniels: Spread of the downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh. Agg.) In disturbed raised bogs of the Diepholzer moorland. In: Osnabrücker Naturwissenschaftliche Mitteilungen. Volume 27, 2001, pp. 39-49 (PDF file) .
  24. ↑ Virtual moor educational trail of the Friedrichsfehn elementary school, (accessed on July 16, 2006) ( Memento of the original from October 23, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.grundschule-friedrichsfehn.de

Web links

Commons : Scheiden-Wollgras  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Distribution maps

Moor protection

This article was added to the list of excellent articles on August 22, 2006 in this version .