NMNH Anthropology

Arctic Cotton

Catalog Record

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Plant fibers in an old cigar box. Old note with artifact identifies as ""Cotton-grass" Eriophorum calothrix; Cumberland Gulf Canada Used as tinder by Eskimo - WH [Walter Hough]." This is presumably "Eriophorum callitrix, commonly known as Arctic cotton, Arctic cottongrass, suputi, or pualunnguat in Inuktitut, is a perennial Arctic plant in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It is one of the most widespread flowering plants in the northern hemisphere and tundra regions. Upon every stem grows a single round, white and wooly fruit. The seeds are covered in this cottony mass and usually disperse when the wind carries them away. Eriophorum callitrix narrow, grass-like leaves. ... The Inuit used the seed heads as wicks in seal oil lamps." - Wikipedia contributors, "Eriophorum callitrix," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eriophorum_callitrix&oldid=950412589 (accessed May 31, 2020). 2 Sep 2022 2