CRYPTOGAMIA FILICES. ^4/ 



in miniature. The ftalk in its infancy is termi- 

 nated with a fpike of cryptogmious flowers. 



Mrvtnfill £QUISET»M fcapo fruMcante niido, i^erili 

 frondofo/5^ />/. 1516. f^'^^- ^'»- i^H- /• 3- 



Blackivellt.iiy,) 

 Common or Corn Horfe-tail. AngUs. 

 Earbulleich. Gaulis. 

 I In wet meadows and corn-fidds frequent. -« . V . 



The flowering ftalks are naked, and diftina from 

 the foliaceous ones, and appear in the Spring 

 ibmewhat like the young fhoots of afparagus, 

 ' and foon decay. The barren ftalks appear foon 



afterwards, and are ten or twelve inches high, 

 durable, and rough to the touch. 1 he leaves 

 grow verticillate, from feven to twelve or more 

 in a whirl, generally Ample and undivided, but 

 fometimes emitting a branch or t^^o, frequently 

 jointed, the -vagina divided into numerous, 

 pointed, fuicous dents. The powder out of the 

 fpikes, when placed under the microfcope, may- 

 be feen to leap about with great elafticity, as it 

 alive. . 



It has a very aftringent and diuretic quality, and is 

 efleem'd ferviceablc in i\,^ Ho:maturia ^nd ^o- 

 vorrh^a, but is out of the prefent praftice. 

 It is a troublefome plant in pafturcs, and difagree- 

 able to cows, never touch'd by them unlefs 

 compeird bv hunger, and then bringing upon 

 them an incurable Biarrkcca. It does not feem 

 to aftea hones or fneep. ^.q^tiseTUM. 



