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Horsetail

Equisetum hyemale

Horsetail Locations in North America
Horsetail Locations in Southeast US
horsetail drawing

horsetail side view

horsetail close up
horsetail along bank

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.

What is Horsetail?

Physical Characteristics

Sheaths:

  • Cylindrical
  • Usually has black band at base
  • Central portion whitish-gray to pinkish in color
  • Has ridges
  • 0.2-0.47 inches long

Fruit:

  • Egg-shaped cones
  • 0.5-1 inches long
  • 0.2-0.39 inches in diameter

Stem:

  • Slender rhizome
  • Blackish in color

Upright Stems:

  • Evergreen
  • Standing alone
  • Many ridges
  • Up to 9 feet tall & 1 inch in diameter

Branches:

  • Similar to primary stems, but smaller in size

Where Does it Grow?

Horsetail can be found in sandy or loamy soil in open or wooded areas along streams and flats, in seepage, and on wet ledges.

Pros and Cons of Horsetail

Horsetail has no known direct food value to wildlife. 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.

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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