Equisetum

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Contents

[edit] Introduction

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[edit] Description

Horsetail

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Scientific Classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Division:Pteridophyta
Class:Equisetopsida
Order:Equisetales
Family:Equisetaceae
Genus:Equisetum
Species:Equisetum arvense

Binomial: {{{Genus}}} {{{Species}}}

[edit] Identification

Equisetum is a genus of vascular plants that reproduce by spores rather than seeds. The genus includes 15 species, commonly known as horsetails and scouring rushes. Equisetum is the only one in the family Equisetaceae, which in turn is the only family in the order Equisetales and the class Equisetopsida. This class is often placed as the sole member of the Division Equisetophyta (also called Arthrophyta in older works), though some recent molecular analyses place the genus within the ferns (Pteridophyta), related to Marattiales. Other classes and orders of Equisetophyta are known from the fossil record, where they were important members of the world flora during the Carboniferous period.

Image:Horsetail vegeative stem.JPG
Vegetative stem: N = node, I = internode, B = branch in whorl, L = fused megaphylls

The name horsetail, often used for the entire group, arose because the branched species somewhat resemble a horse's tail, the name Equisetum being from the Latin equus, "horse", and seta, "bristle". Other names include candock (applied to branching species only), and scouring-rush (applied to the unbranched or sparsely branched species). The latter name refers to the plants' rush-like appearance; the stems were used for scouring cooking pots in the past (due to them being coated with abrasive silica).

The genus is near-cosmopolitan, being absent only from Australasia and Antarctica. They are perennial plants, either herbaceous, dying back in winter (most temperate species) or evergreen (some tropical species, and the temperate species Equisetum hyemale, E. scirpoides, E. variegatum and E. ramoissimum). They mostly grow 0.2-1.5 m tall, though E. telmateia can exceptionally reach 2.5 m, and the tropical American species E. giganteum 5 m, and E. myriochaetum 8 m.

In these plants the leaves are greatly reduced, in whorls of small, segments fused into nodal sheaths. The stems are green and photosynthetic, also distinctive in being hollow, jointed, and ridged (with (3-) 6-40 ridges). There may or may not be whorls of branches at the nodes; when present, these branches are identical to the main stem except smaller.

The spores are borne under sporangiophores in cone-like structures (strobilus, pl. strobili) at the tips of some of the stems. In many species the cone-bearing stems are unbranched, and in some (e.g. E. arvense) they are non-photosynthetic, produced early in spring separately from photosynthetic sterile stems. In some other species (e.g. E. palustre) they are very similar to sterile stems, photosynthetic and with whorls of branches.

Image:Equisetum arvense strob.jpg
Strobilus of E. telmateia, terminal on an unbranched stem

Horsetails are mostly homosporous, though in E. arvense, smaller spores give rise to male prothalli. The spores have four elaters that act as moisture-sensitive springs, assisting spore dispersal after the sporangia have split open longitudinally.

Many plants in this genus prefer wet sandy soils, though some are aquatic and others adapted to wet clay soils. One horsetail, E. arvense, can be a nuisance weed because it readily regrows after being pulled out. The stalks arise from rhizomes that are deep underground and almost impossible to dig out. It is also unaffected by many herbicides designed to kill seed plants. The foliage of some species is poisonous to grazing animals if eaten in large quantities. Equisetum is cooked and eaten in Japan.

The horsetails were a much larger and more diverse group in the distant past before seed plants became dominant across the Earth. Some species were large trees reaching to 30 m tall. The genus Calamites (family Calamitaceae) is abundant in coal deposits from the Carboniferous period.


The superficially similar flowering plant, Mare's tail (Hippuris vulgaris), unrelated to the genus Equisetum, is occasionally misidentified and misnamed as a horsetail.

[edit] Origin, Distribution, Habitat, and Life Cycle

  • Origin indicates where the plant came from. Is it native to North America? If not, indicate what continent the plant was introduced from and how it came to North America.
  • Distribution indicates where the plant can be found. Is it common to the East Coast, the Rockies, the Pacific Northwest?
  • Habitat indicates what kind of area the plant tends to inhabit. Is the plant common to forests, swamps, the sea shore? Does it prefer sandy soil, disturbed soil (like gardens, fields and construction sites), wet soil with poor drainage? Does it require lots of direct sunlight or does it prefer shady areas?
  • Life Cycle
    • Most plants fall into one of three categories:
      1. Annuals - The plant sprouts, grows and dies all in one year.
      2. Biennials - The plant sprouts one year, grows to a certain degree but does not produce flowers or fruit. The next year, the plant grows flowers and fruit and then dies. Many biennials grow a basal rosette the first year. In the second year, a flower stalk grows out of the rosette. Mullein is an example of a biennial.
      3. Perennials - The plant continues to grow back year after year from the same roots. Cattail is an example of a perennial.
    • You can also include information as to when certain aspects of the plants life cycle take place during the year. For example, when do the leaves first appear? When do the flowers bloom? When does the fruit ripen?

[edit] Common Names

Horsetail.

[edit] Uses

[edit] Edible Uses

Young horsetail shoots make a great snack, although large quantities are toxic.

[edit] Medicinal Uses

General: common horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is an excellent source of silica, which is an important mineral for bones and it helps with calcium absorption. As a result, horsetail helps to hasten the repair of tissues and will also help tissues retain elasticity and strength. This plant has an affinity for the genito-unrinary system and can be used in cases of blood in the urine and other genito-urinary disorders. It also acts as a gentle diuretic, immune stimulator, and it promotes coagulation of blood. Blood in the urine is often due to urinary tract, bladder, or kidney infection or trauma. If this is the case, additional herbs and professional help should be sought.

Other indications: weak nails, bones, skin, hair; osteoporosis; discharging pustules, boils, sores; build up of uric acid; incontinence or urine; chronic bladder infections; excessive menstruation; intestinal bleeding; mineral deficiency.

Traditional Chinese: clears damp heat and reduces infection.

Preparations: a longer decoction (approx. 3 hours) is the best method of preparation for maximum extraction and lower toxicity. Using the younger plants also helps to decreases risks of toxicity.

Cautions: horsetail can deplete vitamin B6 (thiamin) from the body. Not eating the herb raw and choosing a decoction over an infusion supposedly counter acts this potential effect. Long term use without breaks is not advisable. Horsetail will pick up inorganic nitrates from agribusiness. Be cautious of where you wildcraft this plant.

[edit] Practical Uses

  • Horsetail has an abrasive stalk that works well for sanding.
  • The stalk can also be used to make a pan flute.

[edit] Lore

A great place for discussing the origins of the plant's names (common or scientific).

You can also use this section to discuss uses that don't fall into the Uses categories of Edible, Medicinal and Practical. For instance, the belief that garlic wards off vampires would be better suited for this section than the Uses/Practical section.

Any symbological or spiritual concepts associated with this plant could also be discussed here--such as how the dogwood plant resembles a cross with bloody nail prints on its tips and a crown of thorns in its center due to the fact that dogwood was supposedly believed to be the type of wood the cross was made from.

[edit] Gallery

Provide a thumbnail gallery of images of the plant. Use descriptive captions for the thumbnails.

For help on how to make a gallery, see this MediaWiki article: Help:Images/Gallery

[edit] Disclaimer

Rewild.info, its parent company Mythmedia, and Rewild.info contributors are not responsible or liable for any of the information used on this website. Practice at your own risk!

[edit] Sources

Attribution

Wiki Authors

Books

  • The Energetics of Western Herbs: A Materia Medica Integrating Western and Chinese Herbal Therapeutics by Peter Holmes
  • Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West by Michael Moore
  • Plants of Coastal British Columbia by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon
  • Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Thomas Bartram

Web

References

  • None
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