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How can Equisetum giganteum grow as tall as 10 metres with such a thin stem?
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Equisetopsida
Giant horsetail of Europe (Equisetum telmateia).
The slender stems of Equisetum giganteum are able to reach heights of up to 10 metres despite their thin diameter—typically around 2 to 4 centimetres—because they rely on external support from their environment. Rather than possessing the structural rigidity to stand entirely on their own, these plants are supported by growing in dense stands and by the surrounding vegetation, such as tall grasses and shrubs, in their natural habitat.12