204 
BRITISH FERNS. 
the winter. The caudex is 
thread-like, scaly in youth, 
sometimes branched, and pro- 
ducing on its under parts tufts 
of roots, and on its upper ones 
tufts of erect leaves, which in 
the early stage are curled in 
like the fronds of ferns; the 
leaves are round, hollow, and 
awl-shaped, bright green in 
colour, and composed of cells 
radiating from the centre. 
The globular capsules are 
placed on short stems rising 
from the caudex at the point where the leaves are 
affixed, they are about the size of a peppercorn, and 
are covered with brown hairs, they contain the two kinds 
of fruit. 
This plant is found all over the United Kingdom, but 
is more plentiful in the south. It flourishes all over 
Europe, and also in Western Australia. 
been submerged during 
EQUISETACEiE. 
HORSETAILS. 
This group of plants boasts still less resemblance to 
the Ferns and Club-mosses than did that of the Pepper- 
worts, but it has gained a place as an ally of the Fern 
family, for want, perhaps, of any closer alliance else- 
where. The Horsetails are leafless, branching plants, 
with fistular stems divided by joints, each of which ter- 
