48 
EQUISETACE^:. 
much more so than the single apical catkin of the normal form 
of the plant, and hence they much more nearly resemble those 
of the preceding species : in other respects this plant so nearly 
approaches the normal form, that a more minute description ap- 
pears unnecessary. 
It was supposed by Bolton that this variety was caused by the 
primary stem having been bitten off, but Dr. Wood remarks^ that 
in all the specimens he has seen the terminal catkin of the 
main stem was present, thus clearly proving that the proliferous 
condition is not dependant on the accidental circumstance of 
the top of the plant having been cropped or destroyed.” As I 
have never seen the plant without the terminal catkin, I entirely 
agree with this observation. 
The second variety is not so familiar to botanists ; it is, how- 
ever, widely but sparingly distributed. I am indebted to Miss 
Griffiths for specimens from Braun ton Burroughs in Devonshire, 
to Dr, Greville for others from the sands of Barry, and to Mr. S. 
Gibson for the loan of others from Aldingham, Yorkshire, and 
Broadbank, Lancashire. 
This plant, as will be seen from the figure, differs principally 
from the normal form in being without branches, or nearly so, 
the occurrence of a few scattered ones being occasional only, and 
constituting the exception rather than the rule. 1 have little 
doubt of its being the E. palustre y. nudum of Duby and De Can- 
dolle,+ and an intermediate form between this and the usual plant 
is probably the E. palustre i3. alpinum of Sir W. J. Hooker. J 
The specimens vary considerably in size as well as general 
appearance : those from Scotland, Yorkshire and Lancashire, 
are very small, the stems not attaining on the average more than 
a length of two inches : those from Devonshire are somewhat 
larger — the figure on the opposite page represents a Devonshire 
specimen of the natural size, — and I have seen others of a still 
more luxuriant growth. Some of the examples are erect, others 
prostrate, and those which grow on sand banks have the roots 
* Phytologist, 482. 
f Botanicon Gallicuin, i. 535, of the second edition, 
t Hooter’s British Flora, p. 451 of the fifth edition 
