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Equisetum arvense L.
Fam: Equisetaceae
Genus: Equisetum L.
Species: Equisetum arvense L.
English Name: Field horsetail, Common horsetail

Description:

Equisetum arvense, the field horsetail or common horsetail, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the Equisetopsida (the horsetails), native throughout the arctic and temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. It has separate sterile non-reproductive and fertile spore-bearing stems growing from a perennial underground rhizomatous stem system. The fertile stems are produced in early spring and are non-photosynthetic, while the green sterile stems start to grow after the fertile stems have wilted and persist through the summer until the first autumn frosts.[2][3] It is sometimes confused with mare's tail, Hippuris vulgaris.[4]

Rhizomes can pierce through the soil up to 6 feet in depth. This allows this species to tolerate many conditions and is hard to get rid of even with the help of herbicides.[5]

Description

Equisetum arvense creeps extensively with its slender and felted rhizomes that freely fork and bear tubers. The erect or prostrate sterile stems are 10–90 cm (3.9–35.4 in) tall and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) diameter, with jointed segments around 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) long with whorls of side shoots at the segment joints; the side shoots have a diameter of about 1 mm (0.039 in). Some stems can have as many as 20 segments. The solid and simple branches are ascending or spreading, with sheaths that bear attenuate teeth, with the 1st internode of each branch being longer than the subtending stem sheath.[citation needed] The off-white fertile stems are of a succulent texture, 10–25 cm (3.9–9.8 in) tall and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) diameter, with 4–8 whorls of brown scale leaves and an apical brown spore cone. The cone is 10–40 mm (0.39–1.57 in) long and 4–9 mm (0.16–0.35 in) broad.[2] The fertile stems are typically precocious and appear in early spring.[7] It has changed little from its ancestors of the Carboniferous period.

The plant is difficult to control due to its extensive rhizomes and deeply buried tubers. Fire, mowing, or slashing is ineffective at removing the plant as new stems quickly grow from the rhizomes. Some herbicides remove aerial growth but regrowth quickly occurs albeit with a reduction in frond density.[6]

E. arvense is a nonflowering plant, multiplying through spores. It absorbs silicon from the soil, which is rare among herbs.[citation needed] It has a very high diploid number of 216 (108 pairs of chromosomes).[2]

Habitat and distribution

Equisetum arvense grows in a wide range of conditions, in temperatures less than 5 °C (41 °F) to greater than 20 °C (68 °F) and in areas that receive annual rainfall as low as 100 mm (3.9 in) and as great as 2,000 mm (79 in). It commonly occurs in damp and open woodlands, pastures, arable lands, roadsides, disturbed areas, and near the edge of streams. It prefers neutral or slightly basic clay loams that are sandy or silty, especially where the water table is high, though it can occur occasionally on slightly acid soils.[6]

The plant is widespread in the northern hemisphere, growing as far as 83° North in North America and 71° North in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia and as far south as Texas, India, and Iran. It is less widespread in the southern hemisphere, but it occurs in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Madagascar, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand.[6]

Beneficial uses

The plant contains several substances that can be used medicinally. It is rich in silicon (10%), potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium and phosphorus, phytosterols, dietary fiber, vitamins A, E and C, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides and caffeic acid phenolic ester. The buds are eaten as a vegetable in Japan and Korea in spring. All other Equisetum species are toxic.

In polluted conditions[citation needed], it may synthesize nicotine.[8] Externally it was traditionally used for chilblains and wounds.[9] It was also once used to polish pewter and wood (gaining the name pewterwort) and to strengthen fingernails. It is also an abrasive. It was used by hurdy-gurdy players to dress the wheels of their instruments by removing resin build up.[10]

Equisetum is used in biodynamic farming (preparation BD 508) in particular to reduce the effects of excessive water around plants (such as fungal growth). The high silica content of the plant reduces the impact of moisture.[11]

E. arvense has been used in traditional Austrian herbal medicine internally as tea, or externally as baths or compresses, for treatment of disorders of the skin, locomotor system, kidneys and urinary tract, rheumatism and gout.

Harmful effects

Equisetum arvense is toxic to stock, particularly horses.[12]

It was introduced into New Zealand in the 1920s and was first identified as an invasive species there by Ella Orr Campbell in 1949.[13] It is listed on the National Pest Plant Accord, prohibiting its sale, spread and cultivation.[14]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Species

35. (1) E. arvense L. (perennial plant) - In damp places, fallow lands, embankments, etc., diffuse. (1 - 2). II - V. (Technical,
Honey). Fig.24.
36. (2). E. telmateia Ehrh. (E. maximum Lam.) (Perennial plant.) - In humid places, mainly in beech and oak forests, often
(1 - 2). IV - VI. (Honey).
37. (3). E. limosum L. (E. fluviattle L, E. heleocharis Ehrh.) (Perennial plant) - In the swamps of Vitosha, in the Radomir
region (Choklevo swamp), Lyulin mountain, Samokov field, Sofia region (near the Iskar river), Western Rila, Rhodopes
(Batashko blato, Smolyan, Dospat) {1 - 3). V - IX. (Technical, Honey)
(38). (4) E. Palusire L. (perennial plant.) - In wetlands; Widespread. (1--). V - IX. (Melliferous). FIG. 25
39. (5). E: sylvaticun L. (perennial plant.) - In the humid shady and swampy places and peatlands: Western and Central Stara
Planina, Rila (above the village of Separevo), Western Rhodopes (around the former Batashko marsh and Chehlyov forestry).
Rare (-2). IV - VI. (Technical, Melliferous). .
40. (6). E. ramosissimum Desf. (perennial plant.) -, In humid places; occurs almost throughout Bulgaria (1-). V - VIII.
41. (7). E. hiemale L. (perennial plant.) - From moist forests, forest meadows and swamps: in the whole Stara Planina, in
the Mihaylovgrad region (Lukovitsa village), Vitosha, Lyulin, Konyavska mountain, Milevska mountain (Kyustendil region),
Rila, Pirin, Western and Middle Rhodopes, Sredna Gora (1 - 2). VI - VIII. Fig. 26.

From:   „Флора на България”, Н. Стоянов, Б. Стефанов, Б. Китанов, том I, Изд. „Наука и Изкуство”, София, (1966)

1.    Stem brown or yellowish ………………………….................................................…….…………………………… 2.
1* . Stems all green or only the branches green ……………………............................................…...……………………. 4.
2    The vagina with 15 - 35 teeth. Strobiles thicker than 1 cm. Perennial plant. 20 - 60 cm. In humid wetlands. Whole Bulgaria.
(1) III - IV . …..…................................................................................................……………………. - E. telmateia Ehrh.
2*. The vagina with 3 - 12 (20) teeth. Strobiles thinner than 1 cm ......................................................................................... 3.
3. The vagina with 3 - 5 (6) gave way to the vagina. The stem with 10 - 18 ribs (Fig. 1). Perennial plant. 10 - 30 cm. In wet,
shady, swampy areas and peat bogs. Stara Planina (middle, western), Vitosha, Rila, Rhodopes (western). (1 - 2). IV – VI .......
................................................................................................................................................................... - E. silvaticum L.
3*. Vaginas with 6 - 12 pointed acuminate teeth. Stem with 6 - 12 ribs. Perennial plant. 10 - 20 cm. In wet places in crops and
embankments in the mountains and foothills. Whole Bulgaria. (1+), II - IV. (Technical, Medicinal, P) .............. - E. arvense L.
4.   The stem. branched. The branches located in the vertebrae ............................................................................................ 5.
4*. St unbranched or with single branches located in irregular vertebrae ............................................................................. 10.
5. The branches re-branched. The ribs of the stem more than the teeth of the vagina (Fig. 1) (see Thesis 3) .......................... ................................................................................................................................................................. - E. silvaticum L.
5*. The branches are unbranched. The ribs of the stem number as many as the teeth of the vagina Vagina with 15 - 35 teeth.
The stem, especially towards the top, is whitish and the branches are green (see Thesis 2) ...................... - E. telmateia Ehrh.
6*. The vagina with 3 - 12 (20) teeth. Stem and branches green .......................................................................................... 7.
7. The teeth of the vagina with a filamentous, early withering and ± falling tip (Fig. 2). Perennial plant. 20 - 70 cm. In humid
swamps and streams. All of Bulgaria. (1). IV – VI ........................................................................ - E. ramosissimum Desf.
7*. The teeth of the vaginas are triangular or narrow-lance, with a non-sloping tip ................................................................. 8.
8.   The lowest internodes of the branches to the top of the stem shorter than the vaginas of the main stem (Fig. 3) ................. 9.
8*.   The lowest internodes of the branches to the top of the stem longer than the vaginas of the main stem (Fig. 4) (see antithesis 3) ......................................................................................................................................................................... - E. arvense L.
9.   The cavity of the main stem 4/5 of its diameter. The stem with 10 - 30 ribs. Perennial plant. 0.2 - 1.5 m. In humid swamps and
streams. Sofia region, Znepol region, Vitosha region, Rhodopes, (western) (1 - 3). V - IX. (Technical, Medical) ..........................
....................................................................................................................................................................... - E. fluviatile L.
9*. The cavity of the main stem 1/2 of its diameter. Stem with 6 - 8 (12) ribs. Perennial plant. 20 - 70 cm. On wet meadows
and swampy places, by rivers. All of Bulgaria. (1 +). V - IX. (Medicinal) .........................................................— E. palustre L.
10. The stem is not branched. The teeth of the vagina are black, falling off early. After the fall of the teeth, the vagina with a black
ring at the base and at the upper end (Fig. 5). Perennial plant. 0.2 - 1.3 m. In forests and meadows, near streams. Fore-Balkans,
Stara Planina, Znepol region, Vitosha, Pirin, Sredna Gora, Rhodopes (western, middle). (1 - 2). VI - VIII .......... - E. hiemale L.
10*. Stem branched or not branched. Vaginas without black, rarely with a brown ring at the base. Teeth not falling or partially
falling .................................................................................................................................................................................... 11.
11 Teeth of the vagina with a filamentous, early wilting often falling tip (see Thesis 7) .......................... - E. ramosissimum Desf.
11*. The teeth of the vagina without a filamentous tip ............................................................................................................. 12.
12    The cavity of the main stem 4 / b of the diameter (see «thesis 9) ................................................................ - E. fluviatile L.
12*. The cavity of the main stem 1/2 of the diameter (see antithesis 9) ................................................................ - E. palustre L.

From:   “ОПРЕДЕЛИТЕЛ НА РАСТЕНИЯТА В БЪЛГАРИЯ”, Димитър Делипавлов, Мария Попова, Иван Ковачев, Димитър Терзийски, Иван Чешмеджиев, Димо Граматиков, Изд. ЗЕМИЗДАТ, София, 1983

Distribution in Bulgaria: (Conspectus of the Bulgarian Vascular Flora) = conspectus&gs_l= Zlc.
Distribution:
Conservation status and threats: not protected species in Bulgaria by the Biodiversity Law. - Biological Diversity Act - http://eea.government.bg/bg/legislation/biodiversity/zbran_22.08.15.pdf

Medical plant: yes, it is - Medicinal Plants Act - http://eea.government.bg/bg/legislation/biodiversity/ZLR_en.pdf

References: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, „Флора на България”, Н. Стоянов, Б. Стефанов, Б. Китанов, том I, Изд. „Наука и Изкуство”, София, (1966), “ОПРЕДЕЛИТЕЛ НА РАСТЕНИЯТА В БЪЛГАРИЯ”, Димитър Делипавлов, Мария Попова, Иван Ковачев, Димитър Терзийски, Иван Чешмеджиев, Димо Граматиков, Изд. ЗЕМИЗДАТ, София, 1983

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

E-mail: krnanev@gmail.com

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