farwell: genus hippochaete in north AMERICA 471 



growth of the season begins in May. Where this variety grows 

 in profusion it is not an uncommon thing to see in March, just 

 after the snow has disappeared, its long stems chalk-white and 

 intact lying flat upon the ground, crossed in all directions. When 

 disturbed, however, they will fall apart and crumble into powder. 

 The stems like those of the species may be single or caespitose, 

 simple or branched, and often four feet in height. I have not 

 seen any with spike-bearing branches. 

 Wiards Siding, Mich., Farwell 2i5Qy2, 2i5gys, June 25, 1910. 



Rochester, Mich., Farwell 27o6y2, 27101^, June 11, 1912; 



3643y2, May 26, 1914; J^P43^» June 8, 1914- Algonac, Mich., 



Farwell 3640a, July 26, 1914. 



Hippochaete laevigata var. Funstoni (A. A. Eaton) comb. nov. 

 Equisetum Funstoni A. A. Eaton, Fern. Bull. 11: 10-12. 1903 



(excluding forma poly stachy urn). 

 Equisetum laevigatum f. variegatoides A. A. Eaton, Fern Bull. 11: 



43. 1903. 

 ? Equisetum hiemale var. herbaceum A. A. Eaton, Fern. Bull. 



11: 108-9. 1903- 

 Similar to the specific type but very rough and the bases of 

 the caducous teeth are more strongly incurved. Eaton described 

 the spikes of E. Funstoni as "not apiculate as in the rest of the sub- 

 genus." H. laevigata has non-apiculate, i. e., rounded, spikes and 

 E. Funstoni as distributed by Eaton has some of the spikes apicu- 

 late. The parenchyma is sometimes divided by the vallecular 

 bast, sometimes not. Equisetum laevigatum f. variegatoides and 

 Equisetum Funstoni f. caespitosum as distributed by Eaton are to 

 be differentiated by only one character; the stems of the former 

 are prostate, ascending, or erect, while those of the latter are 

 ascending or erect— a distinction without a difference. Both have 

 prominently white-bordered teeth fading to white throughout. 

 There seems therefore to be no good reason for keeping Funstoni 

 separate from laevigata. It has been collected in Wisconsm, 

 Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, Utah, and California. 

 Hippochaete laevigata var. polystachya (A. A. Eaton) comb. 



nov. 

 Equisetum Funstoni f. polystachyum A. A. Eaton, Fern Bull. 



11: 12. 1903. 



