Family: Equisetaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 1061 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Equisetum
Vegetable: False
Observations: Subarctic & Temp. Northern Hemisphere
Description
Common Horsetail
Common horsetail, scientifically identified as Equisetum arvense, belongs to the family Equisetaceae. This fascinating perennial plant is widely recognized for its distinctive appearance and historical significance. Described first in the pivotal work “Species Plantarum” by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, common horsetail boasts a rich legacy in botanical literature.
Habitat and Distribution
Native to the subarctic and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, common horsetail thrives in various habitats. You’ll often find it in moist environments such as riverbanks, meadows, and woods. Its resilience allows it to colonize disturbed areas swiftly, making it a common sight in fields and along roadsides too.
Physical Characteristics
Characterized by its segmented stems and whorled branches, common horsetail exhibits a striking resemblance to the tails of horses, which is the source of its common name. The plant features two types of stems: sterile green stems that persist through the growing season and fertile, spore-producing stems that emerge in early spring, distinguished by their pale color and cone-like spore-producing structures at the tips.
Historical and Medicinal Uses
Historically, common horsetail has been valued for its medicinal properties. Ancient civilizations utilized it for various ailments, taking advantage of its high silica content, which is believed to aid in skin, hair, and nail health. Traditional uses also included treatments for urinary tract issues, respiratory ailments, and as a diuretic.
Ecological Role
Common horsetail plays a vital role in its ecosystem. It helps prevent soil erosion due to its extensive root system and provides habitat and food for various wildlife. Its capacity to tolerate heavy metals also makes it a useful plant for phytoremediation, improving soil health by absorbing pollutants.
Cultural Importance
Over the centuries, common horsetail has permeated various cultural practices. It has been used as a natural abrasive due to its rough texture and high silica content, aiding in polishing metal and wood. Additionally, its unique structure has made it a subject of interest in botanical studies, often exemplifying the evolutionary history of plants.
Conclusion
Common horsetail (Equisetum arvense) stands as a testament to nature’s adaptability and resilience. Whether contributing to soil health, serving historical medicinal purposes, or simply adding to the biodiversity of its environment, this plant holds significant ecological and cultural value. Its wide distribution across the Northern Hemisphere underscores its success and adaptability, making it an enduring subject of interest for botanists and nature enthusiasts alike.
Common Names
Deu: acker-schachtelhalm, ackerschachtelhalm, akerschachtelhalm
Dan: ager-padderok
Eng: common horsetail, field horsetail, scouringrush, western horsetail, common field horsetail
Spa: cola de caballo
Nld: heermoes
Nor: heste-snell, kierringrok, skov-snell, snelgras
Fin: peltokorte
Swe: peltokorte, åkerfräken
Fra: prêle des champs
Nob: åkersnelle
Nno: åkersnelle
Sme: bealdohoašša
Cym: brwyn nadd, marchrawn yr ardir, marchrawnen yr ardir, rhawn march yr ardir, rhawn y march yr yd, rhawn yr ardir, rhonell y march
Ita: equiseto dei campi
En: Common horsetail, Field horsetail, Coada-a calui, Scouringrush, Western horsetail, Common field horsetail, Corn Horsetail, Marestail, Pinegrass
Ar: كنباث الحقول
Hy: Ձիաձետ դաշտային
Az: Tarla qatırquyruğu
Ba: Ҡырҡбыуын үләне
Be: Хвошч палявы
Bs: Preslica
Bg: Полски хвощ
Ca: Cua de cavall petita, Equiset arvense
Zh: 問荊
Kw: Lost margh
Hr: Poljska preslica
Cs: Přeslička rolní
Da: Ager-Padderok
Nl: Heermoes
Eo: Ordinara ekvizeto
Et: Põldosi
Fo: Kannubjølluvísa
Fi: Peltokorte
Fr: Prêle des champs, Queue de renard, Queue-de-cheval, Queue-de-renard, Petite Prêle, Queue-de-chat
Gl: Xestela
De: Akerschachtelhalm, Acker-Zinnkraut, Ackerschachtelhalm, Katzenwedel, Pfannebutzer, Pferdeschwanz, Schaftheu, Scheuerkraut, Zinnkraut, Acker-Schachtelhalm, Katzenschweif
Hu: Mezei zsurló
Is: Klóelfting
Ga: Scuab eich ghoirt
It: Equiseto dei campi, Coda cavallina dei campi, Brusca, Coda cavallina, Coda di cavallo
Ja: Sugi-na, Tsukushi
Kk: Улы қырықбуын
Ko: 쇠뜨기
Lv: Tīruma kosa
Lt: Dirvinis asiūklis
Mk: Коњска опашка
Mn: Хээрийн шивлээ
Nv: Ałtį́į́ jikʼáshí áłtsʼózígíí
Se: Bealdohoašša, Galvagorddat, Njoammilsuoidni, Savzarássi
No: Åkersnelle, Heste-snell, Kierringrok, Skov-snell, Snelgras
Nb: Åkersnelle
Nn: Åkersnelle
Fa: گیاه دم اسب
Pl: Skrzyp polny
Pt: Cavalinha
Qu: Ch’iñi kawallu chupa
Ro: Coada-calului
Ru: Cохатинная трава, Хвощ полевой, Конский хвост
Sr: Раставић
Sk: Praslička roľná
Es: Cola de caballo, Cola de caballo del campo, Njivska preslica, Cola de Caballo menor, Equiseto menor
Sv: Åkerfräken, Peltokorte, Rävrumpa
Zh-tw: 問荊
Tr: Tarla atkuyruğu
Uk: Хвощ польовий
Cy: Marchrawnen yr ardir, Brwyn Nadd, Marchrawn yr Ardir, Rhawn March yr Ardir, Rhawn y March yr Yd, Rhawn yr Ardir, Rhonell y March
Synonyms
- Equisetum arvense var. robustum (Schur)
- Equisetum arvense var. nanum (A.Braun ex Döll)
- Equisetum arvense var. irriguum (Milde)
- Equisetum arvense var. nemorosum (A.Br.)
- Equisetum boreale (Bong.)
- Equisetum alpestre ((Wahlenb.) Landolt)
- Equisetum arvense f. diffusum ((A.A.Eaton) Clute)
- Equisetum arvense var. granulatum (G.Lawson)
- Equisetum arvense f. pseudonemorosum (B.Boivin)
- Equisetum arvense subvar. decumbens (G.Mey.)
- Equisetum riparium (Fr.)
- Equisetum arvense var. boreale ((Bong.) Rupr.)
- Equisetum arvense var. intermedium (Milde)
- Equisetum arvense var. subalpinum (Schur)
- Equisetum arvense var. riparium ((Fr.) Milde)
- Equisetum arvense var. pseudosilvaticum (Milde)
- Equisetum arvense var. arenicola (Goiran)
- Equisetum arvense subsp. riparium ((Fr.) Nyman)
- Equisetum arvense var. agreste ((Klinge) Brause)
- Equisetum saxicola (Suksd.)
- Equisetum arvense var. decumbens (Döll)
- Equisetum calderi (B.Boivin)
- Equisetum arvense subsp. ramulosum ((Rupr.) W.F.Rapp)
- Equisetum arvense var. erectum (Hayne)
- Equisetum arvense var. proliferum ((Luerss.) Farw.)
- Equisetum arvense f. atratidens (Lepage)
- Equisetum campestre (Schultz)
- Equisetum arvense var. arcticum (Rupr.)
- Equisetum arvense f. polystachyon ((A.A.Eaton) M.Broun)
- Equisetum arvense var. frondescens (Döll)
- Equisetum arvense var. triangulare (Waters)
- Equisetum arvense subvar. serotinum (G.Mey.)
- Allostelites arvensis ((L.) Börner)
- Equisetum nemorosum ((A.Braun ex Döll) Bellynck)
- Equisetum pratense f. ramulosum ((Rupr.) Asch.)
- Equisetum arvense var. coaetaneum (Schur)
- Equisetum arvense f. nanum ((A.Braun ex Döll) M.Broun)
- Equisetum arvense var. duffortianum (Hy)
- Equisetum arvense f. nemorosum (A.Braun ex Döll)
- Presla arvensis ((L.) Dulac)
- Equisetum arvense var. diffusum (A.A.Eaton)
- Equisetum arcticum (Rupr.)
- Equisetum arvense f. pseudoalpestre (Vict.)
- Equisetum arvense f. decumbens (W.D.J.Koch)
- Equisetum arvense f. pseudovarium (Vict.)
- Equisetum arvense f. microstachyum (A.A.Eaton)
- Equisetum arvense var. fagetinum (Schur)
- Equisetum arvense var. elatum (Schur)
- Equisetum arvense f. caespitosum (J.Rousseau)
- Equisetum arvense var. varium (Milde)
- Equisetum arvense f. agreste (Klinge)
- Equisetum arvense var. prostratum (Opiz)
- Equisetum arvense f. ramulosum ((Rupr.) Klinge ex Scoggan)
- Equisetum arvense subsp. agreste ((Klinge))
- Equisetum arvense f. proliferum ((Luerss.) M.Broun)
- Equisetum arvense f. campestre ((Schultz) Milde)
- Equisetum arvense f. alpestre ((Wahlenb.) Döll)
- Equisetum arvense var. polystachyon (A.A.Eaton)
- Equisetum arvense subsp. boreale ((Bong.) Tolm.)
- Equisetum arvense var. nudum (Milde ex Farw.)
- Equisetum arvense var. campestre ((Schultz) Rupr.)
- Equisetum arvense f. arcticum ((Rupr.) M.Broun)
- Equisetum arvense subsp. alpestre ((Wahlenb.) Arcang.)
- Equisetum pratense var. ramulosum (Rupr.)
- Equisetum arvense var. alpestre (Wahlenb.)
- Equisetum duffortianum (Hy)
- Equisetum arvense f. boreale ((Bong.) Asch.)
- Equisetum arvense var. elongatum (Gray)
- Equisetum arvense var. serotinum ((G.Mey.) A.Braun & Engelm.)
- Equisetum arvense f. riparium ((Fr.) Asch.)
- Equisetum arvense var. ramosissimum (Schur)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Alabama (native)
- Alaska (native)
- Albania (native)
- Alberta (native)
- Aleutian Is. (native)
- Altay (native)
- Amur (native)
- Arizona (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- Austria (native)
- Azores (native)
- Baleares (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Buryatiya (native)
- California (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Chita (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Delaware (native)
- Denmark (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- Finland (native)
- France (native)
- Føroyar (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Greenland (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Iceland (native)
- Idaho (native)
- Illinois (native)
- India (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Inner Mongolia (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Ireland (native)
- Irkutsk (native)
- Italy (native)
- Japan (native)
- Kamchatka (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Khabarovsk (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Korea (native)
- Krasnoyarsk (native)
- Kriti (native)
- Krym (native)
- Kuril Is. (native)
- Labrador (native)
- Magadan (native)
- Maine (native)
- Manchuria (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Mongolia (native)
- Montana (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- Nepal (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- Nevada (native)
- New Brunswick (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- New York (native)
- Newfoundland (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- North Dakota (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Northwest Territorie (native)
- Norway (native)
- Nova Scotia (native)
- Nunavut (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Oregon (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Primorye (native)
- Prince Edward I. (native)
- Qinghai (native)
- Québec (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sakhalin (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Saskatchewan (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- South Dakota (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Svalbard (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Texas (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Tuva (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Utah (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Virginia (native)
- Washington (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- West Siberia (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Wyoming (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Yakutskiya (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Yukon (native)
- Bolivia (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- Victoria (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken May 27, 2021 by Darren Giddins (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 16, 2022 by D Grol (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 18, 2021 by Sedláčková Nikol (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 31, 2019 by Aurore Thourault (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 31, 2020 by Zdeňka. Zonygová (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Apr 10, 2020 by Valentina Valentina (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 19, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 5, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 10, 2022 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 16, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Apr 22, 2021 by kristal selnes (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 14, 2020 by Coombes Paul (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 4, 2020 by Laure Laure (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 8, 2020 by Fanny Gong (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 12, 2019 by Jozef van der Heijden (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Apr 19, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 25, 2022 by Tashkhanov Dmitriy (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 19, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 2, 2021 by Daniel SOTTY (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 2, 2021 by Daniel SOTTY (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jun 18, 2021 by Biljana Stojanova (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 15, 2019 by asfodelogiallo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 31, 2021 by Leonardo Siddi Leonardo Siddi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 8, 2020 by Henry Hies (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 25, 2020 by Fem Alpina (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 17, 2022 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 17, 2022 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 27, 2019 by Jiří Vilím (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 16, 2018 by Varrey Daniel (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 25, 2020 by Jitse (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/7924597)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:300073-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Equisetum arvense L.)
Specifications
Growth form: Rhizomatous
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.0
Ph minimum: 4.0
Light: 7
Atmospheric humidity: 4
Bloom months: [‘mar’, ‘apr’, ‘may’]
Soil nutriments: 6