129 



Memoranda on Equhetun) iHiriegatnm, E. Wihoui, and some other 

 Plants observed in Ireland. By David Moore, Esq. 



The opportunity which two more years have afforded of observing 

 Equisetuni variegatum from Portmarnock, and E. Wilsoni from the 

 Royal Canal, near Dublin, has greatly tended to strengthen my origi- 

 nal opinion of those two plants being perfectly distinct species ; al- 

 though it is difficult to apply in words characters sufficiently pointed 

 to distinguish them. Under cultivation they remain unalterable, and 

 present neaily the same forms as they do in their natural habitats. 

 The canal plant, after being cultivated four years in the garden, re- 

 tains its stout upright habit, and the Portmarnock plant, under the 

 same circumstances, its slender decumbent habit, being only one half 

 the size of the former in every way. Besides, the periods of flower- 

 ing are different; the canal plant is now (April 17th) in full bloom, 

 which is most profusely produced, there being scarcely a stem but 

 what is terminated by a catkin : and even in this instance they differ, 

 our E. variegatum producing flowering stems comparatively sparingly, 

 whether in a cultivated or natural state, and not flowering generally 

 earlier than June, though catkins in some state may be observed on it, 

 as well as upon all the other species of British unbranched Equiseta, 

 during the whole year. 



Mr. Mackay has had the two plants under cultivation for some time, 

 and considers them distinct ; and Mr. Ogilby, who observes them ve- 

 ry closely, and at all seasons, both in the garden and where they grow 

 naturally, is of the same opinion, as well as Mr. Johnstone ; the for- 

 mer of whom tells me, the canal plant appears very conspicuous at 

 present, among the few things yet in flower. 



Teucriiim Scordium. In the course of a hasty run, last June, to 

 Portumna-bridge, for the purpose of searching for Teucrium Scordium 

 an^i other plants, I found the Teucrium in great abundance, where 

 Mr. Mackay observed it nearly forty years ago, and was able to trace 

 it for several miles along the Shannon, both above and below the 

 bridge. Mr. Babington, in his Manual, has stated that the Portumna 

 specimen in Smith's herbarium " has the leaves more suddenly atten- 

 uated below and the whole plant more glabrous than his foreign spe- 

 cimens," which I should say results from situation, as I observed the 

 specimens, in different localities, to vary considerably, although no 

 doubt the same species. When growing in deep water, the plant is 

 almost quite glabrous, except a few long hairs about the stem, and the 

 leaves are cordate-amplexicaul, obtusely crenate and bluntly oblong. 

 Vol. II. s 



