118 
- This species, the Eguisetum varkgatum of botanists, is 
found on the bants of rivers and lakes, and in sandy places 
near the sea* It is one of the species whose stems are all simi¬ 
lar, and almost quite unbranched. It extends by means of a 
widely creeping underground stem, producing numerous 
above-ground stems, often springing from joints in such close 
proximity, that they appear in dense tufts. Though so nu¬ 
merously branched just beneath or at the surface of the soil, 
branches are seldom produced on the exposed part of the 
stems; but when this does occur, they spring singly from the 
joints, and have much similarity to the stem itself The 
stem grows about a foot high; its surface is very tough, and 
1 ridge margi 
ious paints, 
appearance of being grooved, and impart to it its peculiar 
roughness. The sheaths are slightly enlarged towards their 
margin, ribbed like the stem, green in the lower part, black 
above, and terminate in a fringe of black teeth, equalling the 
ribs in number, with a broad white membranous border, in 
rate, and tipped by a deciduous bristle. A certain 
r of the stems, usually the most vigorous, terminate 
in a cone of fructification. This is small, elliptic, crowned 
by a prominent point or apiculus. 
The section of the stem shows a small central cavity, an 
exterior surface of rather prominent ridges, each channelled 
3 as to form two projecting angles, and a circle of moderate¬ 
s' about the centre of the tissues. 
:s called E. arenarivm, is smaller ' 
3 always procumbent, and not 
having more than six farrows. 
Another variety is the E. Wilson 4 which is a stouter and 
taller plant, three feet high. The section of its stem shows 
the^ntral cavity and the ring o fcav ities^ occurring in the 
of E. varkgatum. This plant grows in water at Mucruss, in 
the immediate vicinity ofthe takes of Killamey. The stems 
are tufted, generally simple, but sometimes sparingly 
branched ; they have about ten farrows, with broad inter¬ 
mediate ridges, on which the silicious particles are less pro¬ 
minent, so that the stems are not nearly so rough as in the 
J: allied E. vctrieaattm, Mackayi, etc. The sheaths are scarcely 
larger than the stem, and are entirely green, except a 
sized cavities occurring a 
