EQUISETUM 



HOBSETAIL OBDEB 



EQUISETUM 1023 



partially shaded parts of the rockery. 

 Increased by spores as described at 

 p. 1009. 



BOTRYCHIUM (Moonwort).— 

 This genus is closely related to Ophio- 

 glossum, but differs in having pinnate or 

 twice pinnate fronds and a compound 

 panicle of clustered spore-cases. 



B. Lunaria. —A distinct-looking hardy 

 native Fern, found in pastures and grassy 

 banks, often at an elevation of over 2500 

 ft. in the Highlands of Scotland. It has 

 a pinnate fleshy frond 4-6 in. high, vsfith 

 lunate, crenate, or pinnately cut pinnae. 



Culture a/nd Propagation. — It is 



somevifhat capricious in a cultivated state 

 and should be moved only vi'hen fully at 

 rest. It lutes a soil composed of peat and 

 sandy loam, and fairly moist and shaded 

 situations where it is not likely to be 

 disturbed for several years. The new 

 fronds spring up annually and perish with 

 the frosts of winter, and as individual 

 plants are not very conspicuous it is 

 advisable to grow several together, other- 

 wise they are apt to be overlooked and 

 crowded out by other plants. Where 

 difficulty is experienced in cultivation out- 

 side, the plants may be grown in cold 

 frames until thoroughly established. 



CXXXII. EQUISETACE^ZE— Horsetail Order 



An order containing about 25 species of interesting cryptogamic plants 

 chiefly natives of the North Temperate regions. They have creeping root- 

 stocks, from which spring erect, round, jointed and grooved stems, hollow 

 except at the joints, which end in toothed sheaths, representing leaves. Some- 

 times branches grow out from these sheaths and are like the main stem but 

 much smaller. The seeds, or, more correctly speaking, the spores, are borne 

 at the ends of the branches in the form of a short conical head or spike. This 

 is made up of a number of stalked shield-like hexagonal scales, on the under 

 surface of which are several wedge-shaped spore-oases. When ripe these 

 spore-cases open down the inner side and release the numerous green spores, 

 which may be easily seen with the aid of a small hand-glass. The spores are 

 furnished with four elastic threads called ' elaters ' which assist in their 

 distribution. They are sensitive to moisture and dryness. When moist they 

 coil round the spore, but when dry they straighten out. By breathing on 

 them they close over the spores, and unroll again, as if alive, as soon as they 

 become dry. 



EQUISETUM (Hoesbtail; Pad- 

 dock Pipes). — A genus of leafless herbs 

 with erect rush-like stems, hoUow except 

 at the joints, and furrowed lengthwise. 



Culture and Propagation. — There 

 are 8 or 9 species of Horsetail natives of 

 the British Islands, but those mentioned 

 below are the only ones deserving of any 

 attention from a garden point of view. 

 Indeed some of them are rank weeds and 

 spread so rapidly once they have been 

 introduced into a garden that it is difficult 

 to eradicate them afterwards. They adapt 

 themselves very well to their surroundings, 

 but flourish best in moist loamy soil in 

 shady places such as would suit many 

 Ferns. A clump of the species described 

 below forms an interesting feature in the 

 garden, their distinct appearance and 



habit of growth reminding one of minia- 

 ture Pine - tree forests, and being so 

 different from the ordinary run of plants 

 cultivated. The easiest way to increase 

 the Horsetails is by dividing them in 

 autumn when the stems have died down, 

 or in spring when they are starting into 

 growth. But they may also be raised 

 from spores, which should be sown in pots 

 or pans, or even in the open air in warm 

 moist and shady spots much in the same 

 way as recommended for Ferns at p. 1009. 

 "Where the plants thrive, however, they 

 will continue to increase naturally by 

 means of their creeping underground 

 stems and also by the self-sown spores. 



E. maximum (E. Telmateia). — Giant 

 Horsetail. — A graceful British plant. 



