THE HORSETAILS 115 



cones are three or four inches long and possess 

 a very large number of scales. The barren 

 stems are remarkable for their erect growth, 

 and in a fine specimen these may be four or 

 five feet in height. The stem bears numerous 



Fertile cones of Eqiiisetum maximum. 



whorls of branches, and these branches may 

 show yet further divisions. As a rule each 

 whorl has thirty or forty branches apiece. On 

 the upper part of the stem the whorls are 

 very close together, but they are more widely 

 separated at the lower portion. The main 

 stems, which taper towards the apex, are 



