Equisetum ] 
FE11NS. 
67 
afterwards long-stalked, yellow aad brown. Sheaths of the stem 
widening at top, black only at their upper part, which is sharply but 
not numerously toothed, the upper sheath of the stem being much 
larger and more spreading than the rest. 
Its smaller size, recumbent habit, differently-colored sheaths, with their 
prominent and permanent teeth serve to distinguish this from E. Hyomale. 
Sit. — On the sandy sea-shore in the north of the kingdom. 
Had. — Eng. : Sand hills on the Cheshire coast, between Hoylako and the 
Rock Fort, Mr. H. C. Watsoti. Wardrew, Northumberland (abundant) Mr. 
Winch. Southport, Lane., Mr. W. Wilscm. Near the Powder Magazine, in 
Wallasey, opposite Liverpool, Mr. J. E. Bowman. Bootle Sands, near Liver- 
pool, Mr. Ry lands. — Sco. : Sands of Barry, Forfarshire, Dr. Greville. Higher 
parts of the Tees, Mr. Hogy. Near Winch Bridge, Teesdale, Mr. Bowman. 
NoarAvoch, Rossliire, Rev. G. Gordon . — Ire.: Portmarnock, opposite Bal- 
doyle, Dr. Taylor. Mucruss, Killarney (a tall var.), Mr. W. Wilson. Moist 
banks near a waterfall at the upper end of Colin Glen, Belfast, Mr. MacJcay. 
Ballyharrigan Glen, near Dimgiven, Mr. D. Moore. 
Geo. — Switzerland, Italy, France, Alsatia, &c. 
8.— EQUISETUM IIYEMALE. 
ROUGH IIORSE-TAIL. SHAVE GRASS. DUTCH RUSH. 
(Plate 5, fig. 13.) 
CiiA. — Stem erect, rough, deeply striated. Sheaths short, ap- 
pressed, black at each end. Teeth deciduous. 
Syn. — Equisetum Hyemalo, Linn., Willd., Smith, Hook., Light f., Ehrh., 
Huds.,With., Pursh, Mack., Gray. (Not of Bony .) — Equisetum nudum, 
Ray, Gerard. 
Fig. — E. B. 915. — Hook, in Flo. Lon. 161.— Ger. Her. 1113.— Bolt. 39.— 
Schk. fil. 172. 
Des. — lloot black, branched. Stems erect, of a very dark green, 
without whorls of branches, but forked and divided at the base, 2 to 
3 feet high, regularly and numerously furrowed. Sheaths 2 to 3 
inches distant from each other, very closely pressed to the stem, 
short, with a black rim at the top and bottom of each. Teeth of the 
scales black and deciduous. 
It is surprising that this plant, so valuable in a general as well as a commer- 
cial point of view, is not cultivated along our 6andy coasts, where it would 
grow luxuriantly and rapidly, forming a strong embankment, and yielding a 
considerable profit. The Dutch are well acquainted with the value of its long 
and matted roots in restraining the wasting effects of the ocean, which would 
soon undermine their dykes were it not for the Equisetum Hyemale which is 
planted upon them. At the proper season it is cut down and exported to other 
countries, where its naked and flinty stems are used for polishing domestic 
utensils, furniture, marble, &e. It is here sold as Dutch rush, (not Dutch 
rushes, which are a small variety of Scirpus palustris.) 
So abundant is the silex upon both the inner and outer cuticle of the stem. 
