marsh horsetail

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• marsh horsetail

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Equisetum hybridum
• Equisetum palustre var. nigridens
• Equisetum palustre var. simplicissimum
• Equisetum palustre var. tenue
• Equisetum palustre f. ramosissimum
• Equisetum palustre var. japonicum
• Equisetum palustre var. nudum
• Equisetum veronense
• Equisetum palustre f. prostratum
• Equisetum palustre var. collinum-tenerrimum
• Equisetum palustre var. paludosum
• Equisetum palustre var. microstachyum
• Equisetum palustre f. verticillatum
• Equisetum palustre var. arcuatum
• Equisetum palustre f. arcuatum
• Equisetum palustre var. ramulosum
• Equisetum palustre var. ramosissimum
• Equisetum palustre f. microstachyum
• Equisetum torgesianum
• Equisetum palustre f. wachteri
• Equisetum palustre var. simplex
• Equisetum palustre var. apiculatum
• Equisetum palustre f. nigridens
• Equisetum palustre f. simplex
• Equisetum palustre f. nudum
• Equisetum palustre f. tenue
• Equisetum palustre var. tenuissimum
• Equisetum palustre var. polystachion
• Equisetum palustre var. aphyllum
• Equisetum palustre var. membranaceum
• Equisetum palustre subvar. apiculatum
• Equisetum nodosum
• Equisetum tuberosum
• Equisetum palustre var. ramosum
• Equisetum palustre var. nanum
• Equisetum palustre var. szechuanense
• Presla palustris
• Equisetum palustre var. polystachyum
• Equisetum palustre f. fluitans
• Equisetum palustre f. luxurians
• Equisetum palustre var. americanum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. Following its placement in the subclass Equisetidae and order Equisetales, it is a member of the family Equisetaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Equisetum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its presence is also noted in the island territories of Føroyar and Iceland. Furthermore, the species is widely documented across Great Britain. Together, these locations highlight the plant's preference for northern maritime and continental environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Equisetum palustre is characterized by its preference for highly saturated environments, primarily colonizing meadows that are consistently wet, along the edges of shores, and within various types of swamps. This species thrives in hydric soils where moisture availability is abundant, allowing it to establish itself in marshy landscapes. Regarding its vertical distribution, the plant exhibits a significant altitudinal tolerance, with an average elevational range reaching approximately 2300 m AMSL, demonstrating its ability to inhabit diverse topographical zones from lowland wetlands to higher-altitude aquatic ecosystems.

Elevational range mean:

2300 m AMSL

Habitat :

meadows: wet, shores, swamps

Life history

The life history of Equisetum palustre is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a cryptophyte, specifically categorized as a geophyte, which indicates that its perennable parts are protected underground during unfavorable periods. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its above-ground structures seasonally as it undergoes its periodic cycles of growth and dormancy.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Equisetum palustre is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent species, lacking parasitic tendencies, and exists as a terrestrial organism rather than an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a specific stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Equisetum palustre is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. This species is non-carnivorous, relying on its root system and environmental nutrient availability rather than the capture of prey for nitrogen or phosphorus. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 86.2 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf-to-mass ratio and influencing its efficiency in light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

86.2 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Equisetum palustre is characterized by an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on wind to facilitate the transfer of genetic material. The flowering period for this species typically begins in June and concludes in September. Rather than producing traditional seeds or fruits found in flowering plants, its reproductive structures are categorized under an "other" fruit type, consistent with its status as a pteridophyte. Following pollination, the dispersal of reproductive units follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are dispersed by the wind. Notably, the specific asexual reproduction mechanism described in this context is absent.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

other

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Equisetum palustre has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD

Preparations

Equisetum palustre has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include decoction, methanol extracts.

Decoction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology