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Where are strobili located on Equisetum plants?
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Equisetopsida
Giant horsetail of Europe (Equisetum telmateia).
In Equisetum plants, strobili (also known as cones) are reproductive structures that form at the ends of branches. Their specific location varies depending on the species:1
- Green aerial branches: Some species bear terminal strobili directly on their green, photosynthetic shoots.12
- Specialized shoots: Other species utilize separate, upright aerial branches for reproduction. These fertile shoots may be nongreen and wither after spores are shed, or they may initially be nongreen and later develop into green vegetative shoots.12
These strobili are composed of sporangiophores, which are fertile components that bear sporangia containing the plant's spores.12