Scientific Name:
Equisetum
spp.
Pronunciation:
eck-wih-SEE-tum
Common Name:
horsetail
Family Name:
Equisetaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial, Weed (horticultural)
Key ID Features:
An erect spore bearing vascular plant with whorls of narrow jointed branches at nodes; leaves reduced to crown-like whorl at nodes; strobili formed on tips or on separate fertile shoots connected by rhizomes.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
1.3 - 2.0m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe, North America
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Landscape Uses:
Floristry
Additional Info:
Google. Species shown include E. fluviatile.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Whorled
Texture/Venation:
Leathery
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Green, Nearly Black
Shapes:
Linear, Other
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Sheathing, Truncate
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
actually these are branches and are absent in some species; the "leaves" are microphylls at the jointed nodes
Inflorescence Type:
Spike-like
Flower Morphology:
Colour (petals):
No flowers, Brown
Flower Time at Peak:
Fruit Type:
Sporangium (spores)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Showy, timing depends on species
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
Course(s):
- not used (on campus)
Location(s):
- (PHA) PolyHouse and Area
- (WDY) WeeDY location