Native Plants

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Smith, R.W.

Equisetum sylvaticum

Equisetum sylvaticum L.

Woodland Horsetail

Equisetaceae (Horsetail Family)

Synonym(s): Equisetum sylvaticum var. multiramosum, Equisetum sylvaticum var. pauciramosum

USDA Symbol: eqsy

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)

Horsetails are high in silicates (sand) so have been used as pot scrubbers and bottle brushes.

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Whorled
Fruit Type: Cone
Size Notes: Up to about 28 inches tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Not Applicable
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Not a flowering plant. Reproduces by spores contained within sporangia borne on peltate sporophylls.

Distribution

USA: AK , CT , DE , IA , ID , IL , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MT , NC , ND , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SD , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
Native Habitat: Forest Edge,Prairie/Meadow/Field,Wet Meadow/Prairie/Field,Riparian,Swamp/Marsh

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACW	FAC	FAC		FACW	FACW		FACW	FACW	FAC

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Equisetum sylvaticum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Equisetum sylvaticum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Equisetum sylvaticum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-03-30
Research By: TWC Staff

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