EQUISETUM, 253 



larney. The stems are generally simple, but sometimes 

 sparingly branched; they have about ten furrows, with 

 broad intermediate ridges, on which the siliceous particles 

 are far less prominent, so that the stems are not nearly so 

 rough as in the allied E. variegatum, Mackayi, &c. The 

 sheaths are scarcely larger than the stem, and are entirely 

 green, except a narrow, black, sinuous ring at the margin ; 

 the teeth are short, generally blunt, and have obscure mem- 

 branous margins. No mention is made of the deciduous 

 bristle which occurs in the allied plants. The cone is 

 small, black, terminal, and apiculate, and, as occurs in the 

 allied kinds, its sheath is larger and looser than the rest, 

 the teeth also longer, and their membranous edges dilated 

 and conspicuous. Such is the substance of Mr. Newman's 

 account of it in his ' History of British Perns/ 



The present species is rather a local plant, but is widely 

 dispersed in the three kingdoms, the larger forms growing 

 on the margins of lakes, canals, rivers, ditches, &c., the 

 smaller prostrate examples occurring on the sandy sea-coasts. 



The Equisetums appear to submit readily to cultivation ; 

 at least we have found no difficulty in inducing those of 



