712 THE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



to the large amount of silica contained in the epidermal membranes. The early 

 spring shoots of many species are unbranched and terminate in spore-bearing cones 

 (e.g. E. arvense, fig. 403^), whilst later on other branching shoots arise which are 

 sterile (fig. 403 1). In other cases the fertile shoots are also branched (fig. 403'). 



Fig. 403. — Equisetacese. 



* Summer sterile shoot of £Iquisetum arvense, 2 Vernal, spore-bearing shoot of Eqvisetum arvetise. 3 Fertile cone of 

 the same. ^ A single sporangiferous scale (sporangiophore) of the same. 6 and 6 Spores with "elaters" expanded and 

 coiled, y EquisetuTn »ylvaticum with cone. ^ Prothallium of a Horse-tail with antheridia. 1, 2, 7 natural size; s x 3; 

 «X6; ', « X 26; » X 30. 



The branches arise from the main axis in whorls at the base of the leaf-sheaths, 

 and in most cases perforate the latter as they develop (fig. 403''). They repeat the 

 structure of the main axis, save that they are smaller and have fewer teeth to their 

 leaf-sheaths. E. Tnaximum, common in this country in damp places, attains a 

 height of two metres, and ip the largest British representative of the group, but 



