Plant
Identification
Horsetail
 Description Management
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Equisetum
hyemale
Horsetail is a very primitive
perennial plant with dark-green hollow, jointed or segmented stems
1/4 to 1/2 inch thick with no true leaves. Stems may be singular or
have whorls of branches. Only single stems produce the cone-shaped
spore producing body at the tip. Horsetails can be standing in water
or in wet areas. Horsetail stems contain silicon crystals (i.e.
sand) embedded in its tissue. This gritty texture gives it a common
name of "scouring rush".
Submerged portions of
all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro
invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by
fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks,
etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria
and fungi provides food (called "detritus") for many aquatic invertebrates. Horsetail has no known direct food value to wildlife.
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" indicates Non-Native plants.