PROPERTIES OF CRYPTOGAMIC PLANTS. 7 



uses of many of them. By Walter "Wade, M. D., M. L. S., Prof of Botany. Dublin, 

 1804. 



Fungi Caroliniani Exsiccati. Fungi of Carolina, illustrated by natural specimens 

 of the species. By H. W. Ravenel, Cor. Memb. of Acad. Nat. Sc. of Phila. Fase. I. II. 

 John Russell, Charleston, S. C. 1852-3. 



Des Vegetaiix qui croissent sur I'Homme et sur les Animaux Yivants, par M. Ch. 

 Robin, Docteur en Medecin et en Sciences Naturelles, ancien interne des Hopitaux de 

 Paris, &c., <fec. Accompagne de trois planches gravees. Paris, 1847. (See, also, en- 

 larged edition, Paris, 1853.) 



Histoire des Champignons Comestibles et Veneneiix, oh Ton expose leurs charac- 

 t^res distinctifs, leurs proprietes alementaires et ecouomiques, leurs eifets nuisible et 

 les moyens de s'en garantir ou d'y remedier. Par J. Roques, Auteur de la Phyt. 

 M^dicale et du Nouveau Traite des PI. usuelles. 2d edition. Avec un atlas, plantes 

 <;oloriees. Paris, 1841. 



CLASS 11. CELLULARES. 

 Teibe I. FILICOIDE^. 



Order 1st. EQUISITACE^. 



Floweeless plants, with sporules surrounded by elastic clavate 

 filaments, and inclosed in tliecse arising from the scales of term- 

 inal cones. Yernation straight. 



These very remarkable plants, known by the vulgar name of 

 Horse-tails, seem to have no very decided affinity for any exist- 

 ing tribes. 



From fossil remains, it seems clear that gigantic growths of 

 them formed a considerable part of the original vegetation of 

 the globe. They have not yet been seen in New Holland. 

 Though said to be slightly astringent and stimulating, and rec- 

 ommended as diuretics and emmenagogues, they are not much 

 employed in medicine. In economical purposes they are found 

 highly useful, for polishing furniture and household utensils ; a 

 property which is due to a great quantity of silex below their 

 cuticle (Lindley). According to the observations of Dr. John, of 

 Berlin, they contain full thirteen per cent, of siliceous earth (Ed. 

 P. J. 2, 394). The ashes have been found by chemists to contain 

 half their weight of silica (Jameson's Jour., Jan. 1830, 102). Tlie 

 quantity is so great in Equisetti'm hyemale, that Mr. Sivright suc- 

 ceeded in removing the vegetable matter and retaining the form 

 (Grev., Fl. Edin. 214). In subjecting a portion of the cuticle of 



