CRYPTOGAMIA FILICES. 647 



in miniature. The llalk in its infancy is termi- 

 nated with a fpike of crypt ogamiotis flowers. 



rvenfeil EQUISETRM fcapo fruaificante nudo, fterili 

 frondofo. Sp.pl. 1516. (Ger. em. 1114. /. 3- 

 Blackivell t. 217.) 



Common or Corn Horfe-tail. Anglis, 



Earbull eich. Gaulis. 



In wet meadows and corn-fields frequent. 1J. V. 

 ' , . The flowering ftalks are naked, and diftind from 

 the foliaceous ones, and appear in the Spring 

 Ibmewhat like the young flioots of afparagus, 

 and foon decay. The barren ftalks appear loon 

 afterwards, and are ten or twelve inches high, 

 durable, and rough to the touch. The leaves 

 grow verticillate, from feven to twelve or more 

 in a whirl, generally fimple and undivided, but 

 fometimes emitting a branch or t^^o, frequently 

 jjinted, the vagina divided into numerous, 

 pointed, fufcous dents. The powder out of the 

 fpikes, wlien placed under the microfcope, may 

 be feen to leap about with grea? elafticity, as if 

 alive. 



It has a very aflringent and diuretic quality, and is 

 efteem'd ferviceablc in the Ha'maturia and Go' 

 norrh^a, but is out of the prefent practice. 



It is a troublefome plant in paftures, and difagree- 



able to cows, never touch'd by them unlefs 



' ■ compell'd by hunger, and then bringing upon 



them an incurable Diarrhcea. It does not leem 



to affe<^ horfes or Iheep. 



EQUISETUM. 



