EQUISETUMS TSOETES 



193 



close proximity, will be easily understood. As in the fern, the fertil- 

 ized egg-cell develops into an equisetum plant. 



The sterile shoots, Pig. 342, 8t, appear much later in the season. 

 They give rise to repeated whorls of angular or furrowed branches. 

 The leaves are very much reduced scales, situated at the internodes. 

 The stems are provided with chlorophyll and act as assimilating 





342. Equiaetum arver ot ; f, fertile shool showing the 



spike at a; b, sporophyll, with sporangia; i Bpore. 



ie, nourishing the rhizome and the fertile shoots. Nutrimenl 

 is also stored in special tubers developed on the rhizome. 



Other species of equisetum have only one kind of shoot a tall, 

 hard, Leafless, green shoot with the spike at its summit. Equisetum 

 stems are full of Bile* and they are sometimes used for Boouring floors 

 and ut n>i l> : hence the common name " Bcouring rush." 



[SOE i'i:s 



[gogtes or quillworta are usually found in water or damp s"il on 



the edges of | Is and takes. The general habit of a plan! Is seen 



in Pig. 343, a. Ii consists of b short, perennial stem hearing numer- 

 ous erect, quill like leaves with broad sheathing bases. The plants 

 are commonly mistaken for young gra , 



M 



