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! :
I N T R O D U C T I O N
C O N T I N U E D .
Genus of Plants called Equifetum, or Horfetail, JL conftituting a Part of the Order F I L I C E S in the
L I N N Æ A N S Y S T E M , together with the two other
Genera, the Ifoetes and Pilularia, are the fubjecl of the
prefent Sheets.
The Horfetails, of which no more than fix fpecies have
been difcovered in Great Britain (by that fondnefs for increafing
the number of Plants which almoft Univerfally prevailed
amongft the Botanifts of the laft ages) have been in-
increafed to double their real number, by the Addition of
imaginary fpecies.
Dillenius, in the third Edition of R a f 's Synopfis, enumerates
twelve fuppofed fpecies j fix of which, that are varieties
only, and not fpecies, I will here endeavour to point out.
There is a variety of Equifetum fylvaticum, not unfre-
quently to be met with by Road-fides and in Pathways, having
the fecond leaves all turned to one fide of the firft leaf or
ftem -, this happens when the firft leaf has been trod down,
or by fome Accident fo bent or broken as to lie flat on the
d Ground ;