Family: Equisetaceae
pipes, river horsetail, water horsetail
[Equisetum fluviatile f. linnaeanum L., more...]
Christopher Noll
Paul Skawinski
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium (UWSP)
Etymology: Equisetum: Latin for "horsetail" from equus, "horse," and seta, "bristle"
Plants: erect, perennial, to 40" tall, semi-aquatic, emergent aquatic, stem is 80\% hollow; stems hollow, stiff, with vertical ridges, contain much silica, jointed at nodes,; from rhizomes
Leaves: 15-20 pointed, dark brown-black, toothed membrane circling each node
Habitat: moist; marshes, shallows, water less than 40" deep
Plants: erect, perennial, to 40" tall, semi-aquatic, emergent aquatic, stem is 80\% hollow; stems hollow, stiff, with vertical ridges, contain much silica, jointed at nodes,; from rhizomes
Leaves: 15-20 pointed, dark brown-black, toothed membrane circling each node
Habitat: moist; marshes, shallows, water less than 40" deep
Usually in shallow water of lakes, ponds, streams, and many types of wetlands, on wet sand, muck, rarely peat, with lower part of stem typically underwater. No other Equisetum has a central canal comprising about 90% of the stem, which is usually flattened in pressed specimens. Stems tend to come up unbranched in May and branch later, but those in deep water remain unbranched or have only a few whorls of branches; those in shallow water or on wet soil develop several mid-stem whorls, although usually none near the top
Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 7, Wetland Indicator = OBL USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos University of Wisconsin - Green Bay: Fern & Fern Allies: Photos, descriptions, information
Paul Skawinski
Theodore S. Cochrane
Christopher Noll
Emmet J. Judziewicz
Brenton Butterfield
Brenton Butterfield
