Equisetum fluviatile
Emergent plant of lake, pond, and stream margins
Equisetum fluviatile water horsetail
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Smooth, hollow horsetail of variable form, with many, few or no branches. Branches form depending on environmental factors. The dark green, ribbed and segmented stems grow from black rhizomes buried in the lake or stream bottom sediments. Waterfowl, bear, muskrat eat the stems and rhizomes of water horsetail.
Habitat & Range
Common in standing waters, marshes, ponds, can grow in shallow to deep water.
Present throughout the state with exception of northcentral and southwestern regions.
| EMP: | OBL |
|---|---|
| NCNE: | OBL |
Characteristics
Stems 14-46 in. tall. All alike, green, erect, mostly solitary; very hollow and very smooth with 12-24 flat obscure ridges. Sheath 1/3 in wide, green, clasping, often tinged with orange; 12-24 narrow, black, sharp-pointed teeth, sometimes with narrow white border. Stems sometimes branching after cone has formed.
Branches up to 6 in. long. Variable length and number of branches; spreading to ascending, normally from mid stem nodes; 4-6 smooth, slender, hollow ridges. Branch internode nearest to stem shorter than adjacent stem sheath. Teeth narrow.
Cavities central cavity 4/5 of stem in diameter or more. Vallecular canals absent.
Cone 1 in. long. Blunt tip, short-stemmed, maturing in summer.
Rhizome reddish, hollow, same size as stems, wide-creeping.
Identification Tips
Thin stem walls easily compress when squeezed.
Plant Codes
S-rank: No rank
G-rank: G5 (Secure)
Equisetum fluviatile water horsetail
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