Field horsetail

Equisetum arvense

"Equisetum arvense" is a herbaceous perennial plant, native throughout the arctic and temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. It has separate sterile non-reproductive and fertile spore-bearing stems, growing from a perennial underground rhizomatous stem system.
Equisetum arvense Roadside pastures, between St Joris-Weert and Nethen, Belgium. Belgium,Equisetum arvense,Field horsetail,Geotagged,Spring

Appearance

The sterile stems are 10–90 cm tall and 3–5 mm diameter, with jointed segments around 2–5 cm long with whorls of side shoots at the segment joints; the side shoots have a diameter of about 1 mm. Some stems can have as many as 20 segments. The fertile stems are succulent-textured, off-white, 10–25 cm tall and 3–5 mm diameter, with 4–8 whorls of brown scale leaves, and an apical brown spore cone 10–40 mm long and 4–9 mm broad. You will find it in rich and moist soils, cultivable areas or near streams, and is a descendant plant of Carboniferous period.

Equisetum arvense belongs to the non-photosynthetic plants, it multiplies through spores and absorbs silicon from the soil that is rarely performed by herbs.

It has a very high diploid number of 216.

The specific name "arvense" is derived from the Latin "arvensis", meaning "from the meadow, field or grassland."
Equisetum arvense The spore cone of Equisetum arvense which is borne on a branchless non-photosynthesizing stem. After the spores are shed the fertile stem will wither and die. Habitat: along the edge of an alder thicket growing in peat moss. Equisetum arvense,Field horsetail,Geotagged,Spring,United States,plant,spore cone

Naming

"Equisetum arvense" was introduced into New Zealand in the 1920s and was first identified as an invasive species there by Ella Orr Campbell in 1949. It is listed on the National Pest Plant Accord preventing its sale, spread and cultivation.
Guess what I am? A Common Horsetail! Equisetum arvense,Geotagged,The Netherlands

Uses

The plant contains several substances which can be used medicinally. It is rich in the minerals silicon, potassium, and calciumCalcium, manganese, magnesium and also phosphorus, phytosterols, dietary fibers, vitamins A, E, C, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, caffeic acid phenolic ester. The buds are eaten as a vegetable in Japan and Korea in spring time. All other "Equisetum" species are toxic.

In polluted conditions, it may synthesize nicotine. Externally it was traditionally used for chilblains and wounds. It was also once used to polish pewter and wood and to strengthen fingernails. It is also an abrasive. It was used by hurdy-gurdy players to dress the wheels of their instruments by removing resin build up.

"Equisetum" is used in biodynamic farming in particular to reduce the effects of excessive water around plants. The high silica content of the plant reduces the impact of moisture.

"E. arvense" herb has been used in traditional Austrian medicine internally as tea, or externally as baths or compresses, for treatment of disorders of the skin, locomotor system, kidneys and urinary tract, rheumatism and gout.

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