plant · GBIF taxon 2687927
Horsetail
Equisetum hyemaleAlso known as Rough Horsetail, Scouring Rush, Dutch Rush, Winter Scouring Rush
Rough horsetails are ancient, spore-bearing perennials that form dense, reed-like colonies along wet woodlands and riverbanks. Their unbranched, hollow green stems are heavily impregnated with silica, giving them a rough texture that historically served as a natural abrasive. Lacking true leaves, these evergreen plants photosynthesize through their stems and produce cone-like, spore-bearing strobili at their tips.
EvergreenSpore-bearingWetland
Licensed referenceRyan Hodnett / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
- family
- Equisetaceae
- threats
- Habitat drainage, wetland destruction, and invasive species competition
- life Span
- Indefinite (rhizomes can persist for decades)
LC
Contains thiaminase and high silica; toxic to livestock and pets if ingested.
- Tactile observation: Gently feel the outer stem to experience the abrasive, glass-like texture of the embedded silica.
- Spore viewing: Look for the cone-like strobili at the stem tips in late spring to see where spores are released.
- Containment: Plant in submerged pots if growing in gardens to prevent the aggressive rhizomes from taking over.