CRYPTOGAMIA-EQUISETACEÆ. Horse-tail. *Fertile stems unbranched, succulent, appearing before the sterile ones which have whorled branches. 1. E. fluviátile, L. (great Water Horse-tail); sterile stems with very numerous (about 30) striæ and nearly erect simple branches, stem cylindrical smoothish, sheaths with close small subulate teeth, fertile stems (short) without branches clothed with ample loose sheaths having many subulate teeth. E. Bot. t. 2022. Muddy lakes, sides of rivers and pools, frequent. Fr. Apr.-The largest of all our species, its sterile stems or fronds being 3-4 feet high. 2. E. Drummondii, (blunt-topped Horse-tail); frond very obtuse at the extremity, sterile stem especially upwards scabrous with prominent points and about 20 striæ, teeth of the sheath appressed, branches simple patent, fertile stem without branches its sheaths approximate appressed with subulate teeth. Hook. Br. Fl. ed. 1, and in E. Bot. Suppl. t. 2777. Scotland, rare; banks of the Isla and Esk, in Forfarshire, extending up the vallies to their sources; Mr T. Drummond. Near Forfar and by the Caledonian Canal, Dr Graham. Near Belfast, Mr Harvey. Fr. Apr.-Allied to the following species, but unquestionably distinct. Its colour is greener and less glaucous, its stems rougher, with closely set, raised points, its angles and branches much more numerous, and the whole barren frond is singularly blunt (in its outline) at the extremity, by which it may at once be known from E. arvense. The sheaths, though paler at the base, have blacker and more prominent ribs upwards, and they are so close as to imbricate each other: their teeth also are more numerous when they separate into the proper number. 3. E. arvénse, L. (Corn Horse-tail); frond attenuated upwards, sterile stem slightly scabrous with 12-14 furrows, teeth of the sheath lanceolato-subulate, branches simple erectopatent, fertile stem without branches its sheaths remote loose. E. Bot. t. 2020. Corn-fields and road-sides, frequent. Fr. Apr.; afterwards the sterile stems appear. ** Fertile stems similar to the sterile ones, simple or brunched. 4. E. sylvaticum, L. (branched Wood Horse-tail); sterile and fertile stems with about 12 furrows, branches compound whorled deflexed, sheaths lax with about 6 or 12 long membranaceous obtuse teeth. E. Bot. t. 1874. Moist woods, hedge-banks; abundant in the north. Fr. Apr. May. -A graceful species, less rigid and more herbaceous than any of the following. Sterile plants pyramidal in their outline; fertile ones abrupt at the top, especially after the fructification has passed away. 5. E. limósum, L. (smooth naked Horse-tail); stem smooth striated, striæ about 16-18, teeth of the sheaths short rigid distinct, branches nearly erect simple whorled often abortive, catkin terminal upon the stem. E. Bot. t. 929. Marshy, watery places and ditches, frequent. Fr. June, July.-Next in size to E. fluviatile: agreeing, too, somewhat in habit; but with fewer angles and teeth and fewer branches in a whorl; and these latter often short and imperfect, or wanting; differing, too, by the catkins being upon stems that are similar to the barren ones. 6. E. palústre, L. (Marsh Horse-tail); stem furrowed roundish with 7 or 8 angles, branches simple whorled gradually shorter upwards (sometimes abortive), catkin terminal on the stem. E. Bot. t. 2021.—ß. alpinum; much smaller, with 4—5 angles and teeth to the sheaths, upper branches abortive.-7. polystachion, Willd.—Raii Syn. Ic. p. 131, t. 5, f. 3. Boggy soils, frequent.-6. Boggy places near springs, on the higher parts of the Breadalbane mountains.- -y. Camberwell. G. Graves. Fr. June, July. 7. E. hyemale, L. (rough Horse-tail); stem throwing up simple branches only from the base scabrous furrowed rough, sheaths with about 14 very small obtuse often deciduous teeth (black at the extremity), catkin terminal. E. Bot. t. 915. Boggy woods; principally in the middle and north of England; in Scotland, and Ireland. Fr. July, Aug.-Most of the Horse-tails are more or less rough to the touch and their cuticle abounds in silex, or flinty earth; so that they are admirably suited for the polishing of hard woods, ivory, brass, &c. This species, E. hyemale, is by far the best kind for such purposes, and is imported largely from Holland under the name of Dutch Rushes. In Northumberland, Lightfoot tells us that the dairy-maids employ it to scour and clean their milk-pails. 8. E. variegátum, Schleich. (variegated rough Horse-tail); stems filiform rough branched only at the base with 4-8 furrows, sheaths with white membranaceous lanceolate teeth (black at their base), catkin terminal. E. Bot. t. 1987. Sandy sea-shores. Sands of Barrie. Near Liverpool; and at Mucruss, Ireland, growing in water, Mr W. Wilson. Portmarnock sands, Ireland, Dr Taylor. Fr. July, Aug.-The smallest of our species, usually decumbent, 6-8 inches long, slender. At Mucruss Mr Wilson finds this plant growing in water and upright to thrice that size, with a stem smoother, about 10-furrowed and more polished in the furrows, and the sheaths not so conspicuously nor so constantly furnished with acuminated teeth or summits as is usual in the ordinary state of the plant. NOTE.-The remainder of the Orders of the Class CRYPTOGAMIA are characterized in the following Appendix, and more fully, together with the Genera and Species, in Parts I. and II. of the 5th Vol. of " English Flora" (or the 2d Vol. of the present work.) APPENDIX; IN which the British Genera are referred to their respective Natural Orders. Together with brief characters of these Orders is given, but always included between hooks (), and in a smaller type, a list of some of the more useful and interesting exotic plants, under their respective families. The characters of all these will be found in the xxvth chapter of the 7th edition of "Smith's Introduction to Botany." According to the method in question, all plants are primarily divided into three Classes: I. DICOTYLEDONOUS, or VASCULAR and EXOGENOUS PLANTS; II. MONOCOTYLEDONOUS, or VASCULAR and ENDOGENOUS; and III. ACOTYLEDONOUS, or CEL LULAR. CLASS I. DICOTYLEDONOUS' or EXOGENOUS PLANTS. Cellular and vascular. Stem formed of two distinct portions, Wood and Bark, increasing in two opposite directions; the former containing pith in the centre, from which diverge the medullary rays, and increasing by new layers on the outside; the latter by new layers within. Leaves with the nerves much branched and reticulated. Flowers usually with a double perianth, the parts often arranged in a quinary manner. Embryo with two opposite cotyledons, rarely more, and then verticillate. SUB-CLASS I. THALAMIFLORÆ. Calyx of many pieces or sepals, (sometimes combined). Petals many, distinct, and as well as the stamens, inserted upon the receptacle, (not upon the calyx); hence hypogynous, from vño, beneath, and yun, the pistil. γύνη, ORD I. RANUNCULACEA. Calyx of mostly 5, rarely 3 or 6, sepals, frequently deformed. Petals 5 or more, often deformed, sometimes wanting. Anthers adnate, mostly reversed. Ovaries 1 or many, 1- or many-celled. Fruit mostly of several 1- or many-seeded carpels, rarely a berry. Embryo straight, in the base of a horny albumen.-Herbs or Shrubs. Leaves often divided, with more or less dilated stalks. Acrid and poisonous, some of them eminently so, especially Aconitum.-GENERA. 1. CLEMATIS, p. 211. 2. THALICTRUM, p. 219. 3. ANEMONE, p. 1 From d, twice or double, and xoruan, the cotyledon. 211. 4. ADONIS, p. 211. 5. MYOSURUS, p. 87. 6. RANUNCULUS (including FICARIA, DC.), p. 211. 7. CALTHA, p. 211. 8. TROLLIUS, p. 211. 9. HELLEBORUs, p. 210. 10. AQUILEGIA, p. 210. 11. DELPHINIUM, p. 210. 12. ACONITUM, p. 210. 13. AcтÆA, p. 209. 14. PÆONIA, p. 210. (MAGNOLIACEE. Handsome Trees, chiefly inhabiting N. America and the Mountains of India, with large fragrant flowers, whose parts are arranged in a ternary manner, ample foliage, convolute deciduous stipules, and bitter tonic bark; as Magnolia, Michelia, and the stately Tulip-tree with its singularly formed leaves.) (ANONACEE. Tropical Trees or Shrubs, yielding delicious fruits, as the Custard-Apple, Cherimoly, &c.) (MENISPERMACEAE. Climbing, mostly tropical plants, with small flowers and bitter tonic roots, as Menispermum palmatum, or Columbo-root, and M. Cocculus; also Cissampelos Pareira, a powerful diuretic.) ORD. II. BERBERIDEÆ. Sepals 3-6, often coloured, in a double row and bracteated. Petals of the same or double that number, glandular at the base. Stamens opposite to the petals. Anthers 2-celled, opening by valves. Ovary 1-celled. Style short. Fruit mostly a Berry. Seeds 1-3 at the base of a lateral receptacle. Albumen fleshy.-Shrubs, often spiny, or herbs, of temperate climates. Leaves ciliated on the serratures.1. BERBERIS, p. 133. 2. EPIMEDIUM, p. 56. ous. ORD. III. NYMPHÆACEÆ. Sepals about 5, often gradually passing into the numerous petals, and these again into stamens, which arise from a fleshy disk surrounding more or less entirely the many-celled and many-seeded ovary. Stigma peltate, rayed. Seeds in a gelatinous aril. Albumen farinaceEmbryo enclosed in a membranous bag. Cotyledons foliaceous.-Aquatic herbs, with peltate or cordate leaves and magnificent flowers.-The roots of Nymphæa Lotus are used as food. The East Indian Nelumbium speciosum, once an inhabitant of the Nile, and considered the zvaos, or Egyptian Bean of Pythagoras, is one of the most splendid of plants. Its seed-vessels are set apart in the hollows of a most curious obconical disk resembling a cornucopia; and these vegetating have been considered an emblem of fertility. The yellow Nelumbium of N. America is very similar to it. One plant of this family found by Dr Schomburgk in the Berbice (Victoria regalis), has the blossoms 15 inches and the leaves 6 feet in diameter !— 1. Nymphæa, p. 209. 2. NUPHAR, p. 210. ORD. IV. PAPAVERACEÆ. Calyx of two deciduous sepals. Corolla of 4-8 petals. Stamens indefinite. Ovary 1. Stigma lobed or rayed. Capsule 1-celled, many-seeded. Seeds upon parietal, projecting receptacles, which form incomplete dissepiEmbryo in the base of a fleshy albumen.-Herbaceous plants. Leaves alternate.-Opium is the product of this tribe, ments. which largely afford a milky, acrid, and narcotic juice, while the seeds of all, except Argemone Mexicana, are mild and oleaginous.-1. PAPAVER, p. 209. 2. MECONOPSIS, p. 209. 3. GLAUCIUM, p. 209. 4. CHELIDONIUM, p. 209. (SARRACENIE. A remarkable Order comprising one Genus, Sarracenia, exclusively inhabiting bogs in N. America. The leaves are radical, long, tubular, with a helmet-like appendage; they contain a fluid, and are admirably contrived for decoying insects, the dead bodies of which in the native country almost fill the tubes. The flowers are scarcely less curious than the leaves.) ORD. V. FUMARIACEÆ. Sepals 2, deciduous. Petals 4, more or less united, one or two of them gibbous or spurred at the base. Stamens 6, in two parcels. Ovary 1. Style filiform. Stigma lobed. Fruit dry, indehiscent, with one or two seeds; or dehiscent with 2 valves and many seeds. Seeds glossy, with an arillus or caruncle, and a fleshy albumen and embryo at the base.-Herbs of temperate climates, with brittle stems and watery juice, slightly bitter and diaphoretic.-1. FUMARIA, p. 262. 2. CORYDALIS, p. 262. ORD. VI. CRUCIFERÆ. Calyx of 4 sepals. Petals 4. Stamens 6, tetradynamous, alternate with the petals; 2 solitary, 4 in 2 pairs. Ovary and Style 1; hypogynous glands at the base of the stamens. Pericarp a pouch or pod, 2- rarely 1-celled, 2valved, sometimes valveless, many-seeded. Seeds on marginal receptacles, without albumen. Radicle curved upwards towards the margin of the cotyledons (accumbent, o), or against the back of one of them (incumbent, o).-Herbs. Leaves alternate. Flowers generally in corymbs, which at length become racemes.-A most important Natural Order, many of the plants which it contains being cultivated as esculents; the Cabbage, Turnep, Mustard, and Cresses of various kinds, Horse-radish, &c., &c. They contain an essential oil, which renders them stimulating, while their seeds yield a fine and mild oleaginous fluid, as Rape; and they are antiscorbutic. The Mustard-seed is used for sinapisms. Several kinds contain sulphur and the basis of ammonia, nitrogen.-The following arrangement of this Order by Decandolle and others, from characters depending primarily upon the plicature of the embryo, though it may in some respects be more natural, is full of difficulties to the young student, who, in innumerable instances, cannot be expected to have access to the seed in a fit state for examination. The following are the British Genera, thus arranged: SUBORDER I. PLEURORHIZÆ. (0=) Tribe I. ARABIDEE. (Pod elongated. Dissepiment narrow. Valves flat or slightly keeled.) 1. MATTHIOLA. 2. CHEIRANTHUS. 3. NASTURTIUM. 4. BARBAREÆ. 5. TURRITIS. 6. ARABIS. 7. CARDAMINE. 8. DENTARIA. |