338 



Equisetum hyemale, Linneiis, (who gives Bauhin's E. nudum minus 

 variegatum basiliense, as a synonyme), Sp. Plantarum, 1517, 



Equisetum variegatum (Schleicher's Catalogue) Willdenow, Smith, 

 Hooker, &c. 



Equisetum reptans^ Wahlenberg. 



Equisetum ramosumvox., Decandolle (on the authority of Vaucher). 



Equisetum multiforme, Vaucher. 



This, like the preceding form of the species, is local, occurring ge- 

 nerally on dry moveable sand in the immediate vicinity of the sea : 

 when in moist situations it assumes a somewhat altered appearance, 

 but the example figured is, T think, a faithful representative of the 

 plant when growing in dry sand. 



In England it occurs at the mouth of the Mersey ; I have repeated- 

 ly observed it on New Brighton sands on the Cheshire side, and the 

 Bootle sands on the Lancashire side : it is tolerably abundant also at 

 Southport, in the latter county. In Teesdale it has been found in 

 several spots, more particularly on Widdy Bank, and about Winch 

 Bridge : the specimens from this locality are much less rough to the 

 touch than those from the Mersey. 



In Scotland it occurs on the sands of Barry, near Dundee ; also in 

 Rosshire, and in Kincardineshire on the banks and in the bed* of the 

 Dee, intermixed with the two forms of the plant already described ; 

 the specimens are generally much more elongate, and like those from 

 Teesdale are also smoother than the Mersey specimens. In Ireland 

 it is abundant in several sea-coast localities, more particularly at Port 

 Mariiock in the vicinity of Dublin, and also in the Dublin Canal. 



For specimens from these localities, and for much valuable infor- 

 mation respecting them, I have to acknowledge my best thanks to Dr. 

 Greville, Dr. Balfour, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Babington, Mr. Gibson, the 

 Rev. Mr. Bi'ichan, and Mr. Moore of the Dublin Glasnevin Garden. 



The roots and rhizoma, like those of E. Mackaii, present no cha- 

 racters by which I can distinguish this from the normal form of hye- 

 male. Like the roots of many other plants when growing in loose 

 sand, those of the present variety are frequently clothed with a quan- 



* An error occurs in a quotation from the Eev. Mr. Brichan's letter, (Phytol. 306); 

 instead of " what is usually called the bed of the river,'' it should have been " what is 

 usually the bed of the river." The meaning is this, " that the Dee has this season, 

 owing to the excessive heat, sunk so far within its usual bounds, as not to cover what 

 is usualhj its bed." That part of the Dee in which the Equiseta occur is in the county 

 of Kincardine, not of Aberdeen. 



