woolgrass, Scirpus cyperinus

Woolgrass is in the sedge family.  Remember, "Sedges have edges, and rushes are round, but grasses have nodes from their tips to the ground".  This little ditty is a loose rule of thumb for identifying families of plants with grass-like leaves.  It may be one of the first thing aspiring botanists learn.  Then of course they learn that it is not always true.  Woolgrass and other Scirpus have round stems.  Variation is endless, essential to life, and certainly entertains botanists.  Woolgrass is one of the larger sedges, towering over others in wet areas at around five feet tall.  Woolgrass can be seen in AL, AR, CA, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY, AB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, and on SPM.  Keweenaw Co MI, 7/12/14.  Sedge family, Cyperaceae.