Equisetum
The horsetail genus
Equisetum, commonly known as horsetail, is a resilient prehistoric plant belonging to the Equisetaceae family. Renowned for its high silica content, it has been used traditionally to support bone health, skin integrity, and kidney function. This ancient botanical offers unique therapeutic potential through its mineral-rich, structural properties.
- Scientific name: Equisetum
- 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 and subclass Equisetidae, it falls under the order Equisetales and the family Equisetaceae. Finally, it is identified 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, is referred to by various common names across different languages and cultures. In Chinese, it is called 木贼属 (mù zé shǔ), while in the Quechua language, it is known as Kawallu chupa. In Udmurt, the name used is Коньыбыж, and in Hebrew, it is identified as שבטבט. Additionally, in Latvian, the plant is commonly referred to as Kosas.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 木贼属 | Wikidata |
| qu | Kawallu chupa | Wikidata |
| udm | Коньыбыж | Wikidata |
| he | שבטבט | Wikidata |
| lv | Kosas | Wikidata |
| id | Paku ekor kuda | Wikidata |
| de | Schachtelhalme | Wikidata |
| ja | トクサ属 | Wikidata |
| vi | Bộ Mộc tặc | Wikidata |
| hsb | Křipica | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its distribution extends to the unique environments of the Føroyaar islands. The species is also well-documented throughout the territory of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical reach includes the rugged terrain of Iceland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Svalbard | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
Chemicals
Equisetum has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Al, As, Cd, Pb.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Al | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| As | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cd | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pb | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |