Southern Giant Horsetail

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Southern Giant Horsetail
• Giant Horsetail

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Equisetum araucanum
• Equisetum bolivianum
• Equisetum caracasanum
• Equisetum elongatum var. scaberrimum
• Equisetum giganteum var. caracasanum
• Equisetum giganteum var. digitaliferum
• Equisetum martii var. minus
• Equisetum scandens
• Equisetum martii
• Equisetum brasiliense
• Equisetum giganteum var. brasiliense
• Equisetum brasiliense var. ramosum
• Equisetum giganteum var. chilense
• Equisetum elongatum var. affine
• Equisetum elongatum var. dolosum
• Equisetum ramosissimum var. dolosum
• Equisetum ramosissimum var. affine
• Equisetum ramosissimum var. scaberium
• Hippochaete gigantea
• Equisetum brasiliense var. nudum
• Equisetum ramosissimum var. scandens
• Equisetum pyramidale
• Equisetum brasiliense f. nudum
• Equisetum brasiliense f. ramosum
• Equisetum philippii
• Equisetum tarapacanum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Equisetidae and the order Equisetales, it is placed in the family Equisetaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is completed by its classification within the genus Equisetum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution spanning across several key regions in Mexico and Central America. In Mexico, it can be found throughout the Gulf region and across the Southwest. Additionally, its presence extends into the Southeast portion of the country. Moving into Central America, the species is documented within the borders of Belize. Finally, its geographical range reaches as far south as Costa Rica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Equisetum giganteum is characterized by a broad adaptive capacity across diverse environmental settings, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 3000 m AMSL. This species exhibits significant habitat plasticity, colonizing a variety of ecosystems including Anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the Cerrado (latu sensu) savanna, and Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forests (Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual). Additionally, it is found within Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial) and specialized coastal ecosystems such as Restinga, demonstrating its ability to thrive in both humid tropical environments and more seasonal or disturbed landscapes.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Equisetum giganteum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence in its habitat. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, it functions as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennial buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by the substrate during unfavorable periods. This hemicrypto-phyte life form, consistent across its classification, ensures that the plant can effectively regenerate and continue its developmental stages year after year.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Equisetum giganteum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, exhibiting a self-supporting habit rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. This independent, non-parasitic plant typically occupies terrestrial habitats, though its ecological niche can span aquatic to semiaquatic environments. It reaches a significant stature for a herb, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 3 meters to a maximum of 4 meters. As a terrestrial organism, it does not function as an epiphyte, maintaining a stable and self-reliant structural presence in its ecosystem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Equisetum giganteum has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Pinocembrin, Vanillic acid, kaempferol, resveratrol.

Flavonoids

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Pinocembrin

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Vanillic acid

1. Journal of oleo science

kaempferol

1. Journal of oleo science

resveratrol

1. Journal of oleo science

Conditions

Equisetum giganteum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hypertension.

Hypertension

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Equisetum giganteum has 6 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanolic extracts, dichloromethane (DM) extract, ethyl acetate (EA) extract, methanol (MeOH) extract, n-hexane (Hex) extract.

Ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of oleo science

Dichloromethane (dm) extract

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Ethyl acetate (ea) extract

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Methanol (meoh) extract

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

N-hexane (hex) extract

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Water extract

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity