38 
EQUISETACE^» 
I will describe one of the best marked of these. Height 22 
inches, of which inches is black, having been buried in the 
ground to that depth, and rather more. At 2j inches, two op- 
posite branches shoot out, with rooted bases. At the next joint 
are two other opposite branches placed at right angles to the 
first pair. At the next joint are two other opposite branches, 
and at the next joint is another opposite pair. The right branch, 
at the seventh joint, has two branches, which are contiguous 
or nearly so (not opposite), and two more at the ninth in the 
same condition ; two opposite ones at the tenth joint, one 
branch having the same direction as the two lower branches. 
In this specimen the main stem is broken off at the height of 
seven inches ; the second primary pair of branches has also one 
branch ramified, but less remarkably so than the one which I 
have already given in detail.” 
The station at Mucruss, in the immediate vicinity of the lakes 
of Killarney, was discovered by Mr. Wilson. He found the 
plant growing in water, perfectly erect, with the stems sometimes 
sparingly branched, but generally simple, and very much resem- 
bling the unbranched form of E. Jluviatile^ which it nearly 
equals in size. Dr. Bromfield, when at Killarney, in the autumn 
of 1842, most kindly endeavoured to obtain for me living plants, 
but failed in finding the station, although directed by Mr. Wil- 
son, so that the plant does not, apparently, exist there in any 
quantity. To Mr. Wilson I am indebted for specimens, accom- 
panied by copious notes and several drawings, from which 
united sources my observations have been compiled. I have 
introduced on the opposite page a figure of portions of two sepa- 
rate stems, the actual size, &c., being preserved. Thinking it 
not improbable that future authors may raise this plant to the 
rank of a species, I beg to propose for it the name of its ener- 
getic and distinguished discoverer ; and though I now merely 
employ the name as distinguishing a variety, I hope that it will 
be preserved should the plant hereafter be adopted as a species. 
The following is the description of a stem which I believe to be 
of average size. Length thirty-eight inches, more than a third 
of which was submerged, and emits numerous roots : it has three 
erect branches, the first is situate nineteen inches below the sum- 
