There are two types of cotton grass in Iceland. One has only one head, while the other can have many. Both were used to make a wick for oil lamps. However, the seeds were often a problem and slowed down the process. An old piece of advice from Skagafjörður in the north of Iceland to get rid of them was to put the cotton grass on the barn floor over night. The mice would then come along and eat the seeds, leaving only the cotton behind.
The cotton grass was also used as a filling for pillows but didn't usually last long and was called the poor man's pillow. It is also a great ornament; pick the flowers in July and hang them upside down to dry. They will stay like that forever. The cotton grass grows in marshlands, so it is therefore advised to wear waterproof shoes when picking them.
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