18 
eard of it through your numerous correspondents, as one of the states 
of E. variegatum. It is, however, distinct from any British Hquise- 
tum I have seen. HE. hyemale is the species it most resembles, and is 
nearest allied to, though very distinct from that plant, in its normal 
form at least, or, indeed, in any form that ever I have observed 
it assume. The long, loose, white sheaths, with white setaceous teeth, 
form good primd facie marks to distinguish it from E. hyemale ; 
besides, the stems are longer, much more attenuated, and have fewer 
strie. The latter characters would appear to connect it with E. 
Mackaii, from which it differs, again, in a marked degree, in the 
colour of its sheaths, which have shorter teeth; and im its stems, 
which never branch. You will, nevertheless, be inclined to say the 
characteristic marks I have pointed out, and even the appearance of 
the specimens accompanying them, do not satisfy you that the plant 
is distinct from the species and varieties described in your last edi- 
tion of ‘ British Ferns.’ From such an opinion I would beg respect- 
fully to dissent; and I will tell you why. It is different in form, 
markings, and, above all, én constitution. In this case, when lan- 
guage appears at fault, Nature steps in, and assists us to point out the 
diversity of her objects. The stems of all our British unbranched 
species of Kquisetum are persistent, remaining green throughout the 
winter. The economy of the plant to which [ am now directing 
your attention is the reverse of this: the stems die down annually. 
When I observed this last year, I supposed it might have been an 
accidental occurrence, and consequently resolved on waiting until I 
saw what would take place this autumn before I considered this a per- 
manent character of the plant. The same result has been again 
obtained, and the original observation verified. The stems are now 
as yellow as ripe wheat-straw, lving flat on the ground, though those 
of all the other unbranched Equiseta are erect, and as green as 
rushes. Surely, then, this is sufficient to mark it as distinct. I here- 
with send you fresh specimens of E. hyemale, E. Mackaii, E. variega- 
tum, var. Welsoni, Ki. variegatum, and the new plant, which will 
enable you to judge for yourself." D. Moore ; Glasnevin, December 
2, 1853. 
The President exhibited a series of specimens of the beautiful plant 
mentioned in Mr. Moore’s communication. He had referred to Vau- 
cher’s ‘ Monographie des Préles,’ in which unusual pains had been 
taken to distinguish the European Equiseta; and he found nothing 
resembling the plant on the table, to which he proposed to give the 
name of Hquisetum Moorei, in honour of the distinguished botanist 
