Bog cotton or cotton grass (myrull in Norwegian) is a common sight this time of year in Østfold, particularly in wet, peaty ground (acid soil), and in pools of shallow, still water, often along the coast. Bog cotton actually comes in two forms, single headed and many-headed, but the two plants are very similar, with white fluffy cotton seed heads and grassy leaves. They usually appear around June each year. The white cotton flowers, which are attached to the seed, are easily dispersed by the wind, thus ensuring the spread of the species. Bog cotton grows to about 60-70cm – the long narrow leaves which surround each stem turn from green to red-brown in autumn. In the old days bog cotton had many uses. It was used for stuffing pillows, to make candle wicks, and also as commercial cotton to make thread and cloth, but it is more brittle than cotton and do not bear twisting so well.