Equisetum.] XCIII. EQUISETACEA. 553 
barren ones. Sheaths about half an inch long, divided into about 6 
to 8 lanceolate, scarious lobes, broader than in our other Lquisetums. 
Spike about 6 to 8 lines long, obtuse. Branches, both of the barren 
and fertile stems, 10 to 16 or more in a whorl, very slender, but not 
above 2 or 3 inches long, and remarkable for bearing, at the lower 
nodes at least, whorls of 2, 3, or more smaller branches, which give the 
plant a very elegant tufted appearance. 
In wet woods, and shady places, in temperate and northern Europe 
and Asia, from northern Italy and the Caucasus to the Arctic regions, 
and in North America. Spread all over Britain, but more abundant in 
Scotland and northern England and Ireland than in the south. fF”. 
summer, or commencing in spring. 
4, E. pratense, Ehrh. (fig.1271). Shady £.—Allied to £. sylvaticwm 
in stature and mode of growth; the fruiting stems at first simple, pro- 
ducing whorls of branches after the spike is developed ; but the branches 
of both fruiting and barren stems are always simple, and the spike is 
larger. The fruiting stems at first resemble those of EZ. arvense, but 
are much more slender. The sheaths have seldom less than 14, and 
usually about 20 strize, and long, subulate teeth. &. wmbrosum, Willd. 
In moist woods, and shady places, generally distributed over the range 
of L. sylvaticum, in Europe, Asia, and North America, but probably no- 
wheresocommon. Has been found in various parts of Scotland, northern 
and central England, and northern Ireland. /r. late in spring and summer. 
5. E. limosum, Linn. (fig. 1272). Smooth #.—Stems mostly fruiting, 
1 to 2 feet high or more, all, including the barren ones, simple, or with 
few short, simple branches at the middle or upper nodes; the striz 
usually about 12 to 20, not prominent. Sheaths about 8 or 4 lines long, 
with shortly subulate or pointed teeth. Spike about 6 to 8 lines long, 
obtuse. 
In marshy places, wet ditches, or shallow waters, throughout Europe 
and temperate Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions. 
Common in Britain. Fr. summer. 
[6. E. littorale, Kiihlew. (fig. 1273). Bog £.—Intermediate between 
£. umosum and palustre, with both of which it agrees in habit, but differs 
from the former in the roughish stem with 10 to 18 distinct deep grooves, 
and in the upper sheaths having dilated mouths, and from £. palustre in 
the larger more hollow stems, with 10 to 18 grooves, and in the dilated 
mouths of the upper sheaths. 
In sandy bogs of Denmark, north and central Germany, and central 
Russia. In Britain hitherto found only in similar situations at Bisley 
Common, in Surrey, but is probably overlooked elsewhere, from its 
similarity to FE. palustre. ] 
7. E. palustre, Linn. (fig. 1274). Marsh E.—Stems mostly fruiting, 
but all nearly similar, erect, about 1 to 14 feet high, much thinner than 
in £. lumosum, and marked with only about 6 to 8 prominent strie or 
angles, and deep furrows; the branches but few in a whorl, not very long, 
and not so thin as in some species. Sheaths 3 or 4 lines long, with as 
many pointed or shortly subulate teeth as striz. Spike as in #. limosum. 
In marshes and spongy bogs, in Europe, temperate Asia, from the 
Mediterranean to the Arctic regions, and in North America. >» Common 
in Britain. Fr. summer. 
8. E. hyemale, Linn. (fig. 1275). Rough E., Dutch Rush.—Stems 
