Field horsetail

Equisetum arvense

Description
Perennial with a spreading rhizome system that produces numerous shoots and tubers, mainly occurs in moderate areas.

Characteristic Features
Upright, hollow, jointed, cylindrical stems with inconsequential and easily overlooked leaves.

Stems
Two types of stems: The fertile (reproductive) stems appear in the early spring and are whitish to light brown, unbranched, hollow, 8 mm (0.31 inch) in diameter, cylindrical, leafless, jointed, and 15-30 cm (5.9 - 11.8 inch) long with 8 to 12 teeth.
Sterile stems are green, erect or somewhat prostrate, 15-60 cm (5.9 - 23.62 inch) tall and are composed of slender, grooved, hollow joints, 1 to 1.5 mm (0.039 - 0.059 inch) in diameter .The middle and upper joints have 6 to 12 needle-like branches that are 5-10 cm (1.97 - 3.93 inch) long, jointed but not hollow, 3- or 4-angled with blackened tips. The stems and branches are surrounded by a small, toothed sheath at each node.

Leaves
Leaf sheaths of fertile shoots with ridged, rough textured 8-12 dirty brown teeth. Leaf sheats of sterile shoots triangular-lanceolate, half as long as sheath tube.

Plant Protection Products