1030 



THE EQUISETUM FAMILY. 



8. Long Equisetum. Equisetum ramosum, Schleich. 

 (Fig. 1266.) 



(E. Mael-ayi, Brit. Fl. E. trachyodon and E. Moorei, Bab. Man.) 



Very near the rough E., with the same 

 little conical point to the spike, and very 

 probably a mere variety, differing only 

 in its slender stems, with only 8 to 12 or 

 seldom more striae ; the sheaths have 

 seldom any black ring round the base, 

 though they often turn black altogether 

 and the teeth have usually lanceolate, 

 subulate points. The stem terminating 

 the stock has usually a few long branches, 

 especially from the lower whorls, and 

 varies from 1 to 2 feet high or more ; 

 the lower stems are simple, slender, and 

 shorter, all usually bearing a spike. 



In sandy, moist places, generally dis- 

 persed over Europe and Russian Asia, 

 but apparently rare in Britain, if indeed 

 the British specimens be really distinct 

 from the following. Fr. summer, rather 

 late, 



9. Variegated Equisetum. Equisetum variegatum, 



Web. et Mohr. (Fig. 1207.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1987.) 



This is again considered by some, and 

 perhaps correctly, as a variety of the 

 rough E. Stems slender, all simple, or 

 very rarely branched, usually in several 

 tufts, 6 to 8 inches high, but the termi- 

 nal or central one sometimes lengthened 

 out to 1 or 2 feet, with only 8 to 10 

 striae ; the sheaths short, with a conspi- 

 cuous black ring, and short teeth. Spike 

 seldom half an inch long, with a conical 

 point as in the rough E. 



In maritime sands, or on the sandy 

 banks of rivers, sometimes quite in water, 

 in the maritime or mountain districts 

 of Europe and Russian Asia, especially 

 ,, in the north, and more rarely in North 



America. In Britain, chiefly in Scotland, 

 Ireland, and the coasts of northern England. Fr. summer, rather late. 





