Woolgrass
    Woolgrass is mostly found in swamps or wet meadows, but prefers bogs or marshes. Woolgrass is common in sedge meadows, especially in northern Wisconsin, although it is found throughout the state. Also it can be found in wetlands in the Great Lakes states, and southward from Louisiana to Florida.
 
 The leaves can grow up to 2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. But the stem can grow up to three to five feet tall. Woolgrass has a triangular or nearly rounded stem. It is surrounded by spreading green, leaf like sprinkelets and are woolly in fruit.

    During August to October woolgrass flowers. The flowers are green to brown clusters of tiny flowers on multi- branched heads near the ends of the stem. Seeds are found in the greenish- brown layered nutlet with a fuzzy, woolly, appearance. Individual seeds are tiny (1/16 inch), somewhat oval and flattened or slightly triangular in a cross section.
    Woolgrass is an important wetland plant because it provides food, cover, and seeds for waterfowl and other wildlife. 30 species occur in the East.

by Miranda


This page was created by the Osseo-Fairchild sixth grade students supported by a Cluster A Goals 2000 Grant
Created 4/8/1999     Updated 4/8/1999    sdp

You may contact us at:  spoore@mail.ofsd.k12.wi.us

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