Equisetum fluviatile : Water Horsetail

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Pteridophyta (spore bearing)

Class: Equisetopsida (Horsetail class)

Family: Equisetaceae (Horsetail Family)

Genera: Equisetum (Horsetails) (Lat. equis = horse + seta = hair, alluding to the resemblance of some species to a horses' tail.)

Species: fluviatile (Lat. fluviatilis = river)

English Name(s):

Water Horsetail,

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Branches (if branched) have first segment shorter than the corresponding stem sheath.
• Plant unbranched, or with branches occurring sporadically, or in complete whorls.
• Stems up to 1 metre long, usually shorter. Central cavity about 4/5 diameter of stem.

Leaves:

• Sheaths snug around stem with 15-20 teeth.

Reproductive Parts:

• Strobilus (pl. strobili) (spore cone) 2.5 cm long, yellow to brown, at top of fertile stem.

Seed:

• Spores having elaters (4 spirally-wound filaments).

Not to Be Confused With:

• E. hyemale which is taller, not deciduous, nor does it ever have branches.

Physiology:

• Elaters (4 spirally-wound filaments) of each spore, respond to humidity by expanding suddenly and throwing the spore out of the strobilus (spore cone).
• Horsetails (Equisetum spp.) bioaccumulate zinc.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial from rhizomes (underground stems).

Seasonal Cycle:

• Deciduous, shedding spores from May-August depending on location.

Animal Uses:

• Equisetum spp. are favorite food of geese and other waterfowl.
• Possibly eaten by muskrat as well.

Habitat:

• Quiet shallow waters of lakes, rivers, ponds, wet shores and ditches.

Modern:

Industrial:

• Plants used for dyeing yarn. This is done by layering wool or yarn with Horsetail (Equisetum spp.), with about a 10:1 ratio of Horsetail:yarn, boiling 30 minutes, then drying in the shade.
• The coarse green stems are used to scrub pots and clean dishes.

Medicinal:

• Green plants, because of their silica content, are used for eye treatments and skin disorders.
• Sterile plants can be used to make an infusion that is said to be effective in combating offensive odour.
• They are also taken internally, 1 mouthful 4 times daily, to relieve painful or difficult urination or bleeding of the stomach or intestinal tract.

Food:

• Sterile stems are dried, ground to a powder, and used for thickening or to make a mush.
• This powder has also been used to make a tea and is sold in some grocery stores.

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• The leaves and stems can be steamed for nasal congestion, colds, and stomach ailments.

Food:

• The root tubercles can be eaten raw.

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

• The Aleut fed a decoction of these plants to a hated guest as a magical poison.

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• Ash of the stems of horsetails (Equisetum spp.) was used alone or with grease as a poultice on burns or sores.
• Plant decoction was used as a contraceptive, to initiate abortion, to stimulate menstruation and to relieve bladder problems.
• Roots were heated and placed against aching teeth.
• Stems bruised were used as a poultice for treating blood poisoning and to stop the swelling of eye lids.
• Sterile stalks were used as an astringent to stop the spitting of blood.

Food:

• Underground stems and roots are eaten raw, with or without lard and are sometimes put in "Indian ice-cream".
• Underground stems and roots are food for some aboriginal groups. They are collected in the spring by water and are sweet and juicy then.