Equisetum arvense

Equisetum arvense, commonly known as field horsetail or common horsetail, is a species of vascular plant in the horsetail family Equisetaceae. Like all horsetails, it is a type of fern. It is native throughout the arctic and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It has two distinct growth forms, a fertile spore-bearing stem and a sterile green stem. It is sometimes confused with mare's tail, Hippuris vulgaris.

Description

A rush like plant. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 40-60 cm high and spreads 30-45 cm wide. The stems are in rings which are tightly packed. They are 60 cm tall. They are slightly rough and have furrows along them. There are also branching stems which are short lived. The leaves are fine and feathery and light green.

Edible Uses

The fertile shoots (strobili), harvested in spring, can be cooked as an asparagus substitute. They should be used while young, and it is advisable to change the cooking water 3–4 times. One source notes they can be eaten raw — peeled with the shoot tip discarded — but describes this as a very tedious process, and they should not be consumed raw in any quantity given toxicity concerns. Some Native American peoples enjoyed the young vegetative shoots before they had branched out, sometimes collecting them in large quantities for feasts. They peeled off the leaf sheaths and ate the stems raw, describing them as being 'nothing but juice.' The roots are edible raw in spring, including the tuberous growths and black nodules on the rhizomes. Gathering these nodules takes considerable effort and was normally done only in times of need, though native peoples sometimes raided the underground caches of lemmings and other rodents to obtain them. One further report notes that Native Americans also ate the peeled stems, base of the plant, roots, and tubers raw, but cautions that this may be inadvisable.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: It should probably only be used in small amounts or for short periods of time. The shoots have been eaten cooked as a vegetable and also used to make tea. It is the young spore bearing stems that are used. They can be preserved in oil. The shoots are used in soup. The side tubers are added to bread. The tubers are eaten fresh as a snack.

Medicinal Uses

Horsetails have an unusual chemistry compared to most other plants — they are rich in silica, contain several alkaloids including nicotine, and various minerals. Horsetail is very astringent and makes an excellent clotting agent, staunching wounds, stopping nosebleeds, and reducing the coughing up of blood. It helps speed the repair of damaged connective tissue, improving its strength and elasticity. The plant is anodyne, antihaemorrhagic, antiseptic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, galactogogue, haemostatic, and vulnerary. The green infertile stems are used medicinally and are most active when fresh, though they can also be harvested in late summer and dried; sometimes the ashes of the plant are used. Taken internally, it acts as a useful diuretic and is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder problems, cystitis, urethritis, prostate disease, and internal bleeding, proving especially useful when there is bleeding in the urinary tract. A decoction applied externally stops the bleeding of wounds and promotes healing, and is especially effective for nosebleeds. A decoction added to a bath benefits slow-healing sprains and fractures, as well as irritable skin conditions such as eczema. The plant contains equisetic acid, thought to be identical to aconitic acid — a potent heart and nerve sedative that is a dangerous poison in high doses. The plant contains irritant substances and should only be used for short periods, and ideally under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh plant and used in the treatment of cystitis and other urinary complaints. The German Commission E Monographs approve Equisetum arvense for urinary tract infections, kidney and bladder stones, and wounds and burns.

Known Hazards

Equisetum arvense is toxic to livestock, particularly horses. It is difficult to control due to its extensive underground rhizomes, which can penetrate the soil up to 6 feet (1.8 m) deep. Fire, mowing, or slashing are ineffective since new stems quickly grow from the rhizomes. Some herbicides remove aerial growth but regrowth quickly occurs albeit with a reduction in frond density.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. They grow in wet places. It is best in swampy clayey soils. It needs a protected location. It is resistant to frost and damaged by drought. They spread by branching rhizomes. In China it grows from sea level to 3,700 m above sea level. In the Himalayas it grows between 3,300-4,050 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 2-9.

Where It Grows

Alaska, Andorra, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central America, Central Asia, China, Estonia, Europe, Falklands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Haiti, Himalayas, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kurdistan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mongolia, Nepal, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scandinavia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, Uzbekistan, West Indies,

Cultivation

Prefers poor dusty ground. This rather contradicts another report which says that the presence of this plant indicates underground water. Prefers a moist but well-drained fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. A very cold-hardy species tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c. Plants have a deep and penetrating root system and can be invasive. If grown in the garden they are best kept in bounds by planting them in a large container which can be sunk into the ground. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. Thick or swollen - fibrous or tap root.

Propagation

Spores should ideally be collected as soon as they ripen in spring and surface-sown immediately on sterile compost. Keep moist and pot up as soon as plants are large enough to handle. Germination is very difficult. Division is also possible; plants usually spread freely when well sited and rarely need assistance.

Other Uses

The stems contain 10% silica and can be used for scouring metal and as a fine sandpaper, as well as for polishing brass, hardwood, and similar materials. An infusion of the stem acts as an effective fungicide against mildew, mint rust, and blackspot on roses, and also makes a good liquid feed. A light pink dye (described as yellow-gray in another source) is obtained from the stem. The plant has been used for making whistles. It is also noted as a dynamic accumulator.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is sold in local markets.

Notes

There are about 29 Equisetum species. They grow in cool, damp places. It is used in medicine.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Akersnelle, Ashvavar, Common horsetail, Darhabro, Dziadzet, Kaweta, Kesatilgad, Khovoshch, Kitsenisad, Kjerringrokk, Matti, Mezei zsurlo, Piibusk, Polski kvosht, Savipahklid, Seatilk, Shave Brush, Soetteugi, Stolbiki, Sugina, Tiruma kosa

References (48)

• Abbet, C., et al, 2014, Ethnobotanical survey on wild alpine food plants in Lower and Central Valais (Switzerland). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 151 (2014) 624–634
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 197
• Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 531
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 386
• Bremness, L., 1994, Herbs. Collins Eyewitness Handbooks. Harper Collins. p 288

More from Equisetaceae

Equisetum laevigatum

Smooth horsetail

Equisetum palustre

Equisetum pratense

Meadow horsetail

Equisetum ramosissimum

Equisetum ramosissimum subsp. debile

Equisetum scirpoides