rough horsetail

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• rough horsetail
• scouring-rush horsetail
• tall scouring-rush
• winter scouring-rush
• Dutch Rush
• Common Scouring-Rush
• Scouring-Rush
• Shave-Grass
• great scouring-rush
• Indian Legos
• Snakegrass
• tall scouringrush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Equisetum hyemale var. rabenhorstii
• Equisetum hyemale f. minus
• Presla hyemalis
• Equisetum hyemale subsp. paleaceum
• Equisetum hyemale var. fuscozonatum
• Equisetum alpinum
• Equisetum hyemale var. javanicum
• Equisetum hyemale var. viride
• Equisetum hyemale f. viride
• Equisetum hyemale f. attenuatum
• Equisetum hyemale var. fallax
• Equisetum hyemale var. minus
• Equisetum hyemale var. brevivaginatum
• Hippochaete hyemalis
• Equisetum hyemale var. capillare
• Equisetum hyemale var. simplex
• Equisetum hyemale var. paucifolium
• Equisetum hyemale var. paleaceum
• Equisetum hyemale f. paleaceum
• Equisetum hyemale var. uliginosum

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 within the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Equisetidae, it is placed in the order Equisetales and the family Equisetaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Equisetum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several regions in Northern Europe. In the northernmost reaches, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Iceland and Finland. Moving southward, its distribution extends through the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. The species is also well-established within the British Isles, appearing in both Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various northern European habitats.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Equisetum hyemale is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a geophyte, utilizing underground structures to survive environmental fluctuations, and is further classified under the cryptophyte life form category, where its vital organs remain protected at or below the soil surface. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its photosynthetic structures to support its long-term survival and regenerative capabilities.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Equisetum hyemale is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This self-supporting plant, which does not function as a climber or a parasite, grows as an independent organism in terrestrial habitats. It typically reaches a maximum plant height of 1 meter, with a mean height of approximately 0.95 meters and a minimum height of 0.25 meters. As a terrestrial species, it is neither an epiphyte nor an aquatic plant, maintaining a distinct structural presence in its environment.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.95 m

Plant height min:

0.25 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Equisetum hyemale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard metabolic strategy for carbon fixation in this species. Although it lacks traditional broad foliage, its morphological adaptations are reflected in a mean leaf size of 13.795 cm², and it functions strictly as a non-carnivorous organism, relying on autotrophic nutrient acquisition rather than the capture of prey. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 28.8 cm²/g, a physiological metric that provides insight into its leaf mass per area and its efficiency in resource allocation and light interception.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

13.795 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

28.8 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Equisetum hyemale is characterized by a specialized process involving spore production rather than traditional flowering, though its reproductive cycle follows specific seasonal patterns. The biological activity related to its reproductive stages is most prominent during the summer months, with the flowering or sporulation period starting in July and concluding in August. This cycle is driven by the release of spores from specialized structures, which are then distributed via an anemochorous dispersal syndrome. This anemochorous mechanism relies on wind currents to carry the lightweight spores across the landscape, ensuring the colonization of new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Equisetum hyemale has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include COPPER, IRON, MANGANESE, ZINC, ACONITIC ACID.

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

IRON

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

MANGANESE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

ZINC

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

ACONITIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CHROMIUM

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

COBALT

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

LEAD

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Activities

Equisetum hyemale has 247 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include ACE-Inhibitor, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allelopathic, Allergenic, Analgesic.

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBPH

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCrohn's

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Equisetum hyemale has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic, infusion.

Ethanolic

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Infusion

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A