F I L I C E S 
BRITANNIC^. 
The fertile leaves conlifl: of fewer joints than the barren, and fome-' 
times produce a few fecond leaves at the bafe of the vaginae. 
BARREN LEAVES, 
The barren leaf which is cut into three parts, in the plate. Fig, B, 
rifes from the fame root as the fertile leaf, and conlifts, when full grown, 
of twenty-Bx or thirty joints, rifes to the height of three feet or more, 
is of a frefh green colour, and fmooth fiirface, while young; when dry, 
becomes channelled, with twelve or fourteen furrows. The joints are 
clofely embraced by the vaginae, while the plant is frefh; when dry, the 
ftem is contraded, the vaginae are lax, and fpread out at the margin. 
The firft leaves are mofl: commonly fimple and naked, as at B ; but 
fometimes one or two branches rife from the lower joints, as at C ; which 
branches are of the fame ftrudure as the firft leaf or principal ftem. 
The firft leaves alfo fometimes produce proper fecond leaves, D, from 
the bafe of the upper vaginae ; two or three of thefe at a joint, fome¬ 
times, though rarely, fix or feven ; they are unequal in length, jointed, 
pentangular, and the joints furrounded with a black quinquidentate 
vagina. 
Grows in fhallow ponds and ftanding waters; and flowers in May. 
E Q^U I S E T U M 
