THE HORSETAILS. 



49 



In Great Britain this species is called " corn horsetail," 

 on account of its abundance in grain fields. It has also 

 a great many names referring to its appear- 

 ance, among which may be mentioned 

 " mare's- tail ," " cat's - tail ," " colt's-tail, " 

 "fox -tail," " pine -top," " pine -grass, " 

 " meadow -pine, and " bottle- brush." 

 " Jointed rush," in allusion to its structure, 

 and " snake-grass," a reference to its habitat, 

 are names it shares with other species of 

 Equisetum. In old botanical works it is 

 occasionally called " toad-pipes," " paddock- 

 pipes," and " tad-pipes," all of which have 

 been given in reference to its association 

 with frogs and toads, " paddock " being 

 an old word for " frog." The appellation 

 " smoke-rush " is not clear. 



The field horsetail is found around the 

 world in the northern hemisphere from lati- 

 tude 38 to 83. It has also been reported 

 from the Canaries and from the Cape of 

 Good Hope. In the United States it does 

 Py^,. not appear to reach the Gulf States, but it 

 is found sparingly in California. It grows 

 in woods, fields, meadows, swamps, and 

 along streams, and is especially plentiful 

 along railways. When fresh, cattle eat it 



BUDS AND TUBERS OF FIELD HORSETAIL. 



