Plants 4 di"n. or higher ; branches linear, developing 
after fructification; branchlets ref lexed ; sheaths loose, 
spreading, about 2 cm. long, including the free, brownish, 
blunt teeth; spikes oblong, acute. 1-3 cm. 1. 
In low shaded woods. New York to Virginia 
(fide Pursh, Fl. 3 : 65r. 1814-) 
I have collected this species in Sweden, where it is 
common. I have never seen specimens collected south of 
Pennsylvania. J. H. Pal72te?^\\ii^ observed it in Chester 
Co., Pa. (bordering on Maryland) . 
Species of E q u i s e t u m w^ere used by the ancients 
in the art of medecine (Plini Hi?;t. 26 : ch. 132). 
The stems of some species w^ere used for polishing 
woods and metals : the young stalks of E. a r v e n s e 
w^ere formerly used for food in Italy (Duchesne, 1839) . 
The Indians have had similar uses for our species. A/r, 
Coville makes this statement about E. h y e m a 1 e (in 
Notes on the Plants used by the Klamath Indians ) : 
'This was formerly used to smooth arrow shafts, just as 
a carpenter uses sandpaper to smooth the surfuce of 
wood.' 
There are many other records which tend to prove, 
that our Equisetum species were in general u?ie among 
the Indians. 
G3 
