364 NATURAL HISTORY. 



SECOND SUB-CLASS. CRTPTOGAMOUS PLANTS. 

 (Class 24, L.) 



Cryptogamous plants are constituted chiefly of cells ; 

 are unprovided, destitute of proper flowers (stamens and 

 pistils) and seemingly without a germ, are propagated 

 by spores instead of seeds. " Acrogenous Plants. 



SlXTY-EIG HTH FAMILY. HORSE-T AILS. E QUIS ATA- 

 CEM. The first of this family is 



The Field Horse Tail (Equisetum. arvense). Stems 

 striped and grooved, branching ; sterile stem nine to 

 fifteen inches high, with a verticil of slender, articu- 

 lated branches from base of sheath ; fertile stems, ap- 

 pearing first, are simple. Grows everywhere in Europe, 

 in fields, ditches, or by brook-sides ; called Shave Grass. 



The Scouring Rush (Equisetum hyemale), contain- 

 ing much silex, is used for scouring and polishing tin 

 ware ; is distinguished from E. arvense by its sharply 

 angulate stem and short sheaths, with small, blackish, 

 deciduous teeth at summit. Much used by cabinet-mak- 

 ers in polishing furniture. 



SIXTY-NINTH FAMILY. LYCOPODIACE^E. CLUB- 

 MOSS FAMILY. 



Club Moss (Lycopodium clavatum), stems creeping ; 

 branches short and ascending ; leaves long, linear, with 

 an extended hair-like point ; arranged in fives ; form a 

 tuft at the summit of the branches. Found in all the 

 mountain forests of the Vor-Alps in Europe and Asia, 

 also in woodlands and thickets in North America. The 

 fruit of this plant appears in the form of a yellow mealy 

 substance, which is called Witch or Vegetable Sulphur ; 

 of little use excapt for theaters or amusing children by 



