468 The Cryptogamous Plants of Dr. Roxburgh. 



proper examination of the object named, and its diligent comparison 

 with all others allied to it; definition is the abridged summing up of the 

 examination, and is so essential, that its systematic omission should not 

 be tolerated. 



CRYPTOGAMIA MISCELLANEA. 



1. EQUISETUM. 

 Fructifications terminal, peltate, of many valves, bursting 

 on the inside, verticillate on ovate-oblong spikes. (Stem 

 and branches composed of tubes inserted into each other at 

 the joints.) 



E. debile. R. Icon. Roxb. Suppt. 5. t. 3. Wall. Cat. 18, 

 No. 397. 



Stems smoothly fluted, weak. Branches opposite, simple. 

 Spikes terminal ; of the stems often tern ; of the branches 

 single. 



Nat. of swampy thickets in Bengal. Flowers during the 

 rains. 



Root perennial, creeping under the surface of the ground. 



Stems numerous, about as thick as a stout crow-quill, 

 length from 3 to 4, or even more feet, and then so weak as 

 to require support, slightly marked with from ten to fifteen 

 smooth grooves and elevations. Joints from 2 to 3 inches 

 long, their mouths ending in as many ensiform scariose teeth 

 as there are flutings on the outside. Branches simple, 

 generally two at each joint, though sometimes one or three, 

 slender: from 6 to 18 inches long, and with about half the 

 number of flutings there are in the stems. 



Spikes terminal, subcylindric, the largest which terminate 

 the stems, about an inch long ; from its base two smaller 

 diverge in opposite directions. Those of the branches 

 smaller, and always single. 



Fructifications pedicelled, peltate, 5-6 celled, from 6 to 

 10 in a verticil ; and about as many verticils compose the 



