474 EQUISETACE^. [EQUISKITM. 



Bogs, marshes and wet sandy places ; ascending to 2,500 ft. in the High- 

 lands ; frt. June-July. Very variable. Stem 6-18 in., deeply furrowed, 

 branched throughout, slightly rough. Cones short, blunt, those on the 

 branches small. DISTRIB. Europe, N. and W. Asia, N. America. 



VAR. 1, palus'tre proper (or vulgare) ; cones terminating the stem. VAR. 2, 

 polystachyoH. ; cones ou the branches also. Var. alpinum (or subnv.ditm) 

 is a stunted state. 



6. E. limo'sum, L. ; stems smooth faintly 10-30 striate, branches 

 simple erect or 0, sheaths short appressed, teeth short rigid. 



Sides of lakes and ditches ; ascending to 2,100 ft. in the Highlands ; frt. June- 

 July. Easily distinguished by the hardly furrowed stems, and close and 

 short sheaths. Stem* stout, 1-3 ft., slender, with short suberoct branches 

 or none. Cones short, oblong, obtuse. DISTRIB. Europe, N. Asia, N. 

 America. 



VAR. 1, Kmo'mim proper ; smooth, branches short rigid equalling the inter- 

 nodes, cones subsessile. VAR. 2, fturiat'ile, L. (sp.); scaberulous above, 

 branches tapering longer than the internodes, cones peduncled. 



7. E. hyema'le, L. ; stems scabrid 8-34-grooved, bran-lies all sub- 

 radical or 0, sheaths white with lilai-k tip and base, teeth black with 

 deciduous tips. Dutch RiuiJi. 



Marshes in woods, from Kent and Hereford to Ross and Moray ; rare in Ire- 

 land ; frt. July- Aug. Easily distinguished by its size, glaucous colour, 

 scabridity, and stems simple or branched at the base only. Stems 1-3 ft. ; 

 branches simple, grooves shallow. Cones small, conoid, acute. DISTRIB. 

 Europe, N. Africa, N. Asia, N. America. 



VAR. 1, hyema'le proper ; stems perennial or biennial, sheaths close, tip of teeth 

 black. VAR. 2, pafeaceum, Schleich. (sp.) ; stems annual, sheaths loose, 

 teeth truncate, tip white. E. Moor'ei, Newm. Banks near the sea, Wicklow. 



8. E. variegra'twm, Schleich. ; steins filiform more or less scabrid 

 4-14-grooved, brandies basal, sheaths green below black above, teeth obtuse 

 apicnlate membranous. 



Wet places and sandy shores, local, from Ross to Devon ; frt. July- Aug. 

 Usually small. Stems 4-12 in., often decumbent and branching dichotomously 

 below. SJieathg short, rather distant, appressed ; teeth membranous, white, 

 or edges black. Cone small, ovoid, acute. DISTRIB. Europe, N. Africa, 

 Siberia, N. America. 



VAR. 1, varieya'tum proper ; erect, 1-2 ft., teeth of sheaths short acute. 

 Wet banks, &c. VAR. 2, arena'rium, Newm. (sp.) ; stems decumbent more 

 slender, teeth of sheaths 6-8 cuneate. Sandy shores, from Lancashire 

 northwards. VAR. 3, Wiho'ni, Nowm. (sp.) ; tall, erect, 2-3 ft., teeth of 

 sheaths short obtuse. Watery places. VAR. 4, trachyo'don, Braun (sp.); 

 stem erect or almost decumbent stouter, branches longer flexuous, sheaths 

 black, teeth at length white. E. Mackayi. Newm. Damp woods, N.E. 

 Ireland, Scotland. 



