240 
The Ferns of South Africa. 
158. Equisetum ramosissimum. Desf. 
Plate CL. Natural size. b. c. Receptacles, magnified. d. Spore and 
elaters, magnified, e. Sheath, magnified. 
Rhizome creeping, slender. Stem one to six feet long, hollow 
often simple and only one line diameter when small ; when large 
varying from three to four lines diameter, irregularly branched, or 
sometimes irregularly whorled, with branches again sometimes 
branched, the terminal branch generally fertile, and often many 
other branches fertile, especially if the terminal one has been 
destroyed. Spikes one-half to one inch long, one and a half to 
three lines thick, oblong, pointed. Barren stems not different 
from the others. Sheaths two to four lines long, including the 
black pointed teeth, which vary in size and in number, as also do 
the ribs from five to twenty, according to the size of the stem. 
Large and small specimens look very different, and Kuhn includes 
the following varieties and localities from South Africa, from 
Milde’s monograph, which I have been unable to see. 
Var. capense, Milde=E. capense, Bory MS., Prom. Bon Spei (Bory, 
Drege, Zeyher). 
Var. Burchellii. Milde — E. Burchellii, Vaucher, Prom. Bon Spei 
(Burchell cat., 2464). 
Var. Dregeanum, Milde — E. Thunbergii, Wickstr=E. giganteum, Thbg. 
Prod. 17 1. 
Prom. Bon Spei (Thunberg, Drege). 
Var. Arcuatum, Milde. 
Prom. Bon Spei, near Gekau (Drege). 
Var. Flagelliferum, Milde = E. incanum, Webb and Berth. 
Togela River, Natal (Gueinzius). 
Var. Distortum, Milde. 
Prom. Bon Spei (Mund and Maire). 
Var. Natalense, Milde=E. Natale, Fee MS., Natal (Gueinzius). 
These varieties are not separated by Baker, and the most 
diverse forms seem to grade into one another in accordance with 
surroundings. 
