169 



pastures, whilst L. congesta prefers woods and shady places, and has 

 always seemed to me to preserve a very distinct appearance. Per- 

 haps some of the readers of the ' Phytologist ' may feel inclined to 

 examine them minutely during the present season, and will commu- 

 nicate some information respecting them. The seeds will probably be 

 found to afford a good distinguishing character ; should they be de- 

 siderata with any of your readers, I should feel very happy in supply- 

 ing them. Thomas Bentall. 

 Halstead, Essex, April 4, 1845. 



Note on Equisetiim hyemale. By J. B. B rich an, Esq. 



You will remember that in my first paper regarding Equisetum 

 hyemale &c. (Phytol. i. 374), I mentioned the existence of a " pile of 

 cones," which I found on the top of the stems. Subsequent observa- 

 tion has led me to the following conclusions. A young stem, of about 

 half an inch in height, consisting apparently of one sheath, contains, 

 as you are aware, the embryos of all the sheaths which compose the 

 full-grown stem. In this stage it exhibits a conical termination, 

 which is composed of the black appendages tei'med teeth united into 

 one. As the second sheath rises out of the first, it carries with it this 

 cone, into which, of course, its own teeth, coalescing in a similar man- 

 ner, are inserted. And thus each sheath, as it emerges from its enve- 

 lope, carries atop the matured and withered and conically united teeth 

 of all that have grown before it, until at last the "pile of cones" ap- 

 pears on the top of the full-grown stem, and either falls off before the 

 catkin appears, or is by it cast down from its somewhat singular emi- 

 nence. These remarks are confirmed by the fact, that the uppermost 

 cone is the largest, and that the cones decrease in size as they ap- 

 proach the apex of the stem. The rationale, if I may be allowed the 

 expression, of this curious elevating process, I must leave to be ex- 

 plained by more able botanists. I am satisfied that the account I give 

 of it is correct : and I think it goes far to prove that Equisetum hye- 

 male at least is distinct from E. Mackaii and variegatum as a species. 



J. B. Brichan, 

 Aberdeen, April 9, 1845. 



Vol. II. 



