field horsetail

Field horsetail – Equisetum arvense

Equisetum arvense L.

Equisetaceae (Horsetail family)

MI Status

Native

Life cycle

Perennial, spore-producing plant.

Leaves

Not present.

Stems

Vegetative stems are green and branch in whorls. Stems may have a bottle-brush appearance and should not exceed 2 feet in height. Stems die back to the ground in winter.

Flowers and fruit

Erect, unbranched, white to brown fruiting stalks (stems) bear terminal spore-releasing cones. Flowers are not produced.

Reproduction

Spores and prolific rhizomes.

Similar weeds

Scouringrush (E. hyemale L.)
Differs by having larger evergreen stems with little or no branching. Grows only in wet areas.

Field horsetail patch in field
Field horsetail patch in field
Field horsetail vegetative stem
Field horsetail vegetative stem
Close up of field horsetail stem
Close-up of field horsetail stem
Field horsetail fruiting stalk
Field horsetail fruiting stalk

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