Annielender 2019 | Day 21

Arctic cotton grass (Eriophorum callitrix) are one of the most common and
widespread flowering plants in the northern hemisphere and tundra regions.

They are easily characterized by their super fluffy white poofs which rest upon long stems.

They grow in wet and swampy areas, and rely on the strong winds to disperse their seeds.

The plant is a common food for northern animals such as snow geese and caribou.

It is also used by the Inuit as candle wicks for caribou fat candles to help keep their igloos warm.

One Inuit name for cotton grass is "Puallunguat", meaning "imitation mittens".

The Dwarf Cornel flower (Cornus suecica) is a small flowering plant which grows
in subarctic regions of Europe, Asia, Alaska, and northern Canada.
It is a perennial plant with tiny black flowers.
Some may mistake the white parts for petals, but they are actually bracts!
The plant produces bright red round berries, though not poisonous,
are still not very tasty to humans.
At the end of its growing season,
the dwarf cornel's foliage turns a beautiful reddish-purple color.

The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is a large cat found in parts of Europe, Asia, Siberia, and the Himalayas.
They live in primarily forests, especially in northern areas nowadays.
Their fur is colored reddish brown with dark spots in warmer seasons,
and in winter are replaced with a silvery-grey coat.
They also have snowshoe-like furry webbed paws to help them in the snowy winters.
As typical of a lynx,
these kitties have a short bobbed tail with a black tip, and black tufts on their ears.
Eurasian lynx make make sounds like all cats,
but they are very quiet and rarely heard, making them elusive and mysterious.