Plant · GBIF taxon 2687927
rough horsetail
Equisetum hyemaleAlso known as Scouring Rush, Dutch Rush, Rough Horsetail Fern, Candock
Rough horsetail forms dense, evergreen colonies of unbranched green stems that survive frost and snow. High concentrations of silica embedded in the ridged stem tissue give the plant an abrasive texture used historically to polish wood and scrub pewter. Spores develop within small, cone-like strobili perched atop the mature stems rather than beneath traditional leaves.
Primitive PlantEvergreenWetland
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Waterfowl
- Mammalian Herbivores
- Insect Larvae
ThreatsWetland drainage, aquatic pollution, and habitat destruction
HabitatsRiverbanks, lake margins, marshes, wet ditches, and damp woodlands
Life spanPerennial (rhizomes endure for decades)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyEquisetaceae
- SpeciesEquisetum hyemale
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains thiaminase and silica, which can cause severe vitamin deficiency in grazing livestock if ingested.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains thiaminase enzymes that destroy Vitamin B1, causing severe neurological deficiency and weakness in livestock.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for stiff, unbranched, bamboo-like green stems with black rings around the jointed nodes.
- What to do
- Keep livestock away from infested pastures and do not consume wild plant material.
Responsible observation
- Stem Identification: Look closely at the stem joints to see thin, black-and-white ringed leaf sheaths.
- Habitat Spotting: Scan moist stream banks, lake margins, and wet ditches for standing green stalks.
- Garden Control: Restrain landscape plantings inside submerged containers to prevent rhizomes from spreading.
Close Relative (c) Sean Vanderluit, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sean Vanderluit · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Eric Verna, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Eric Verna · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Thayne Tuason / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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