5:2 
EQUISETACE/E. 
ditches, and occasionally in running streams, the roots and a 
portion of the stem being immersed in water. 
Concerning the nomenclature of this plant Sir J. E. Smith 
has led us into an error, which I have lately endeavoured to 
point out and although no one who has investigated the sub- 
ject expresses doubt as to the fact that the species figured on 
the preceding page is the E. Jiuviatile of Linneus, yet several 
eminent botanists prefer adopting Sir J. E. Smith’s nomencla- 
ture to that of Linneus, on the ground that the former is now 
established in this country. Without making any attempt to 
argue the point with these gentlemen, I revert to the Linnean no- 
menclature simply on the ground of its being the highest autho- 
rity: if they could point out that I misapplied the Linnean name 
I should instantly yield, but while they admit that my nomencla- 
ture is also that of Linneus, it does not appear to me that I am at 
liberty to adopt or reject it in accordance with any views of my 
own. Instead therefore of making any attempt to explain \vhy 
I adopt the Linnean nomenclature, and to defend myself for so 
doing, I confine myself to the more simple task of showing that 
it is the Linnean nomenclature which I have adopted. In the 
first place the adjective is certainly descriptive of a 
plant which is always half immersed in water, whether of rivers, 
lakes or ditches ; and, on the contrary, it is altogether unsuited 
to Jiuviatile^ which generally affects dryland, and which 
appears unable to exist in the water. In the second place, the 
description, ^Jrondihus subsimplicihus'^ ox^^stems almost without 
branches J is clearly descriptive of the present plant, but cannot 
be supposed to describe Smith’s jiuviatile^ in which the stems 
are most abundantly branched. In the third place, Linneus 
marks the species as one in his possession ; and, on turning to 
his herbarium, we find four specimens all identical with the 
plant I have figured : and we do not find, either from the evi- 
dence of name, description or specimen, that Linneus had ever 
seen or was aware of the existence of such a plant as the E. 
Jiuviatile of Smith. Moreover, Linneus observ^es in a MS. note 
to his E. Jiuviatile^ Forte mera varietas prioris (palustre) ex 
solo aqu(B profundioris,"" — perhaps a mere variety of E. pa- 
* Phytologist, 533, 689. 
