Equisetutn.] EQUISETACE^. ^ 269 



Ord. V. EQUISETACE^. Rich. 



1. EQUISETUM. X. 



1. E^fluviatile^ L. — E. BoL t, 2022. Hook et Am, in BoL of Beech. Voy. p. 404«. 



Hab. N. W. America. Columbia River. Dr Scouler; who observes that the young shoots are eaten in the 

 Spring as asparagus. — This species extends south into California ; and Dr Beck gives it as an inhabitant of 

 BuiFalo, N. York, and of the shores of Lake Ontario. 



b r 



\ 



2. E. syivaticum, L. — E. BoL t 1874. Ph. Am. 2. p. 651. 



Hab. Canada. Clegkornj l^ady Dalhousie ; to Fort Franklin on the Mackenzie River. Dr Richardson, 

 Drummond. Newfoundland. Miss Brenion, Mr CormacL New Brunswick. Mr Kendal, 



3. E. umbrosum; caulibus sterilibus pluristriatis superne scabris verticillatim ramosis, 

 ramis strictiusculis summis subcorymbosis, fertilibus simplicibus demum elongatis verti- 

 cillatiai ramosis ut in sterilibus. — Meyer in Willd. Sp. PL 5. p. 3. 



Hab, Saskatchawan to the Rocky Mountains. Drummond. Canada, Mrs PercevaL — The young 

 fertile specimens of this plant from the Rocky Mountains, are marked " E. Drummondii, Hook." (Brit. FK 

 ed. 4. p. 393, et E. Bot. Suppl. t. 2777): and indeed at first sight I could perceive no difference: but on 

 examining these specimens carefully, I found on several of them incipient branches, budding out from the base 

 of the sheaths. There cannot be a doubt, therefore, but these belong to the same species as the specimens 

 from Carlton House Fort, which Dr Richardson has correctly named " E, umbrosum,'* Meyer and Willd., 

 and which exhibit fertile and sterile branches from the same creeping root, both throwing out the horizontal 

 branches. There are likewise fully developed sterile stems in the collection. Now these last, and the simple 

 (unbranched) fertile plants, are so like our British E. Drummondii, that if we only suppose our fertile plants 

 of the latter not sufficiently advanced to throw out the branches (and there are comparatively few specimens 

 which have yet come under my observation), we shall see that the two so-called species are identical, and the 

 name of TJrMmwonc/iY must give place to umbrosum, Willdenow notices its affinity to E. sylvaticum : — 

 that is, in the peculiarity of the fertile stems throwing off the spike and then branching and becoming similar 

 to the sterile ones : for the two species are totally distinct. 



4. E. arvense^ L -E. BoL t, 2020. Ph. Am. 2. p. 651. 



Hab. Lake Huron, Dr Todd; to the Rocky Mountains and the Saskatchawan. Dr Richardson. 

 Drummond. 



5. E. limostm^ E.-^E. BoL L 929. Beck, Fl, p. 446, — E. uliginosum, Willd. ? Ph. Am. 

 2. p. 651. — 13. Candelabrum; ramorum verticillis numerosis superioribus plurimis spici- 

 geris. 



w 



Hab. Watery places of the Saskatchawan ; and /3, growing in water about Winipeg. Dr Richardson. 

 Drummond. — The var. /3. has a very curious appearance: it bears copious whorls about 2 inches long, 16- 

 20 branches in a whorl, and 7 or 8 of these upper whorls bearing spikes, which are much smaller and much 

 less advanced than the terminal one of the stem. 



6. E.palustre^ L,—E. BoL L 2021. 



