626 EQXJiSETACE^. [Equisetum. 



Class III. 



ACOTYLEDONOUS oe CELLULAE PLANTS. 



" Whole plant with a cellular structure (except in the true ferns, 

 which have tubular vessels among the cells, and hence approach 

 the 2nd class). There are no real flowers, nothing that can be 

 considered as stamen and pistil. The seeds, or organs of repro- 

 duction, are without any distinct embryo, consequently without 

 any cotjdedon. — This Class corresponds with the 24th, Cryptoga- 

 mia, in the Linnsean system." — Br. Fl. 



Order LXXXVIII. EQUISETACE^, DeCand. 



" Fructification terminal in spikes or catkins, consisting of pel- 

 tate jjolygonous scales, on the under side of which are from 4 — 7 

 involucres, which open longitudinally and contain numerous glo- 

 bose bodies enfolded by four filaments clavate at their extremi- 

 ties."— Sr. Fl. 



I. Equibetcm, Linn. Horse-tail. 



" Character of the genus the same as that of the order." — 

 Br. Fl. 



* Fertile stems unhranchid, succulent, appearing before the sterile ones, which 

 have lohorled branches. 



1. E. Telmateja, Ehrh. Great Water Horse-tail. " Sterile 

 stems with very numerous (about 30) strise and nearly erect sim- 

 ple branches, stem cylindrical smoothish, sheaths with close small 

 subulate teeth, fertUe stems (short) without branches clothed with 

 ample loose sheaths having many subulate 2-ribbed teeth."' — Br. 

 Fl. p. 581. E. fluviatile, L. (in part). Sm. E. B. t. 2022. Fl. 

 Ban. ix. t. 1469 (opt.) 



Til wet hedgerows, on ditchbanks, by river-sides and in otber watery places. 

 Fr. April. 



E. Med. — Plentiful all along the hedge on the right-hand in the road between 

 Apley and St. John's. Part woods, near Nettlestone. [On nearly all the slipped 

 land of the shore and cliffs throughout the East Medina, Dr. Bell-Salter, Edrs.] 



W. Med. — In a ditch at Lake farm, near Gatcombe, B. T. W. [Moortown 

 bog, Brighstone, A. G. More, Esq., Edrs.] 



2. E. arrense, L. Field Horse-tail. Corn Horse-tail. "Frond 

 attenuated upwards, sterile stem slightly scabrous with 12 — 14 

 furrows, teeth of the sheath lanceolato-subulate 1-ribbed to the 



