Equisetum hyemale
Rough horsetail
Equisetum hyemale, commonly known as horsetail, is a unique perennial plant characterized by its segmented, leafless stems. Renowned for its high silica content, it has been traditionally used in herbal medicine to support bone health, strengthen connective tissues, and promote skin and hair vitality through its mineral-rich properties.
- Scientific name: Equisetum hyemale
- Family: Equisetaceae
- Native range: Europe
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Equisetidae | WCVP |
| Order | Equisetales | WCVP |
| Family | Equisetaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Equisetum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Equisetum hyemale, is referred to by various common names depending on the language: in Hungarian, it is called téli zsurló, while in Czech, it is known as přeslička zimní. In Danish, the species is called Skavgræs, and in German, it is identified as Winter-Schachtelhalm, whereas in Finnish, it is known as kangaskorte.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| hu | téli zsurló | Wikidata |
| cs | přeslička zimní | Wikidata |
| da | Skavgræs | Wikidata |
| de | Winter-Schachtelhalm | Wikidata |
| fi | kangaskorte | Wikidata |
| ja | トクサ | Wikidata |
| ko | 속새 | Wikidata |
| lt | Šiurkštusis asiūklis | Wikidata |
| nl | schaafstro | Wikidata |
| pl | Skrzyp zimowy | Wikidata |
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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as horsetail, is characterized by its unique structure consisting primarily of its vegetative parts. It lacks traditional leaves, instead featuring small, scale-like structures arranged in whorls at the nodes of its segmented, photosynthetic stems. These hollow, jointed stems serve as the main vegetative body, performing photosynthesis and providing structural support, while an extensive underground rhizome system functions to anchor the plant and facilitate vegetative reproduction.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| vegetative parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Equisetum hyemale has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| chromium | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cobalt | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| copper | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| iron | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lead | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| manganese | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| zinc | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |