wood horsetail
Quick Summary
Wood horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum) is a common plant found in the north temperate zone. It is characterized by drooping whorls of branches that are often forked.1
Horsetails, in general, are rushlike perennial herbs with conspicuously jointed stems. They grow in moist, rich soils worldwide, except for Australasia. Some species produce two types of shoots: one with spore-bearing clusters (strobili) and another without. Their stems are hollow, jointed, and ridged, containing silicate and other minerals. The leaves are reduced to sheaths that encircle the shoots. Wood horsetail specifically grows in moist, cool woods and features numerous delicate branches that circle its shoots.2
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