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E Q U I S E T U M hyemale.
Rough Horfe-tail.
CRYPT OGAMIA Filkes.
G e n . Char. Catkin compofed o f peltate fcales, flowering
on their infidc. Partial calyx o f a valves.
Seeds numerous, naked, enfolded by 4 pollenbearing
filaments.
Spec. Char. Stem naked, very rough, moftty branched
at the bafe. Sheaths whitifh, black at the bafe and
fummit.
S y n . Equifetum hyemale. Linn.Sf .PI. 1 5 17* Hudf.44.%.
With. 756. Hull. a34. Lig'btf. 630. Relh. 3 8 5 ’
Abbot, aaa. Bolt. Fil. 70. t. 39.
E. nudum. Rail Syn. 131.
(jA T H E R E D near Rippon, Yorkfhire, by Mr. W . Brim ton
junior of that place. Although generally efteemed a very rare
plant, it is found, always indeed fparingly, in boggy woods
and thickets in feveral parts of Britain.
The roots are perennial, black, creeping. Stems ereft,
fimple, except at the bafe, naked, round, jointed, hollow, furrowed,
rough, each joint encircled with a membranous, fhort,
black and white, toothed {heath or ruffle. Catkin terminal,
ovate, dark-brown, fplitting into many angular peltate fcales,
within whofe clefts on the infide are lodged numerous minute
germens, (afterwards becoming naked feeds,) each of which is
invefted by 4 fpira! filaments, which bear the pollen, according
to Hedwig’s juft remarks.
The fruftification appears in fummer. The ftems laft
throughout the winter, (whence the name hyemale,) and have
long been imported from Holland to polifh cabinet-work,
ivory, and even brafs. Their cuticle is extremely rough and
hard; the ingenious Mr. Davy, now lefturer at the Royal
Inftitution, has found it to' contain a large portion of filiceous'
earth.