FERN-ALLIES. 207 
EQUISETACEAE. 
Equisetum arvense, L. Field Horsetail. 
Native. First found: Gosselin, 1788. 
Rather common in all parts of the island in clayey fields, 
poor land, and on roadsides. There are specimens in Gosselin’s 
herbarium. 
This plant is known in the patois under the name of Coue de Rat, 
or rat’s tail. The common French name is Pvé/e, but in Normandy 
most of the species are generally known as Quewes de cheval. 
(Equisetum maximum, Lam. Great Water Horsetail. In 
Gosselin’s printed list four species of Equisetum are noted, including 
L£.. fluviatile, River Horsetail. This was the old Hudsonian name 
for £. maximum,*but in Gosselin’s herbarium the specimens labelled 
£. fluviatile prove to be £. imosum, Major H. Smith wrote in his 
annotated copy of the Flora Sarnica that #. maximum grew near St. 
Peter’s Port (probably about the year 1860); but I am not aware 
that any Guernsey specimens exist. This beautiful Equisetum 
grows luxuriantly in one spot in Alderney, the stems attaining a 
height of four or five feet.) 
(Equisetum sylvaticum, L. is mentioned in Gosselin’s list, but it 
is not represented in his herbarium, nor is any other species so 
named by him. In the absence of confirmation therefore this record 
is of slight value. Thirty years ago £. sy/vaticum was recorded 
for Sark by Dr. Bull, but, as he does not mention two other species 
which are known to occur there, it is possible that he confounded 
the names. At present, therefore, we have no satisfactory evidence 
that this plant ever grew in these islands.) 
Equisetum limosum, L. Smooth Horsetail. 
Native. First found: Gosselin, 1788. 
Frequent in wet meadows and swampy places, more especially in 
the low-lying districts. In Gosselin’s herbarium there is an un- 
named specimen, aswell as one called Z. fluviatile : but no locality 
is specified. 
Equisetum palustre, L. Marsh Horsetail. 
Native. First found: Gosselin, 1788. 
Rather common in moist meadows, marshes, and wet grassy 
places. Var. polystachyon, Vill. Rare. Scattered plants at Grande 
Mare and neighbourhood. There is a specimen of this variety in 
Gosselin’s herbarium, but the locality where it was found is not 
mentioned. 
