THE SCOURING-RUSHHS. 



nodes with bands of black and ash-colour, are sufficient 

 to attract the eye at any time of the year, but they are 

 especially noticeable in winter, when, in the absence of 

 other greenery, they become very conspicuous against a 

 background of snow or withered leaves. It is a very gre- 

 garious species, and is seldom found except in little 

 thickets that are very characteristic. 



Early in spring the new stems make their appearance, 

 arising from short branches of the underground portion of 

 the plant. In appearance these budding stems suggest a 

 closed telescope, being of full diameter, but with only 

 the sheaths of the joints showing. Development consists 



in the lengthen- 

 ing of the inter- 

 nodes, just as a 

 telescope may 

 be lengthened by 

 drawing out the 

 tube, though in 

 A the case of the 

 v^ plant the sections 



are not enclosed one within the other, as in the 

 instrument. The full-grown stems are usually 

 stiffly erect and unbranched the first year; but 

 during the second season, if the tip of the stem is 

 injured, a few of the upper nodes may put forth 

 small branches. These, instead of diverging, 

 grow upward, nearly parallel with the main stem. 

 The height of the stem seems limited only by 

 its capacity for growth, though, since each joint 

 STEMS. is smaller than the one preceding it, there would 

 come a time, theoretically, when no more joints 

 could be produced. The tip of the stem is usually 



