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Equisetum laevigatum

A. Braun

Smooth horsetail

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Leslie S, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Leslie S

iNaturalist· cc-by

(c) Anders Hastings, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Anders Hastings

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Jackson Nesbit, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jackson Nesbit

Equisetum laevigatum is a species of horsetail in the family Equisetaceae. It is known by the common names smooth horsetail and smooth scouring rush. This plant is native to much of North America except for northern Canada and southern Mexico. It is usually found in moist areas in sandy and gravelly substrates. It may be annual or perennial. It grows narrow green stems sometimes reaching heights exceeding 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in). The leaves at the nodes are small, scale-like brownish sheaths and there are occasionally small, spindly branches. The stems are topped with rounded cone-shaped sporangia.

Description

A temperate herbaceous plant in the Equisetaceae family. The rootstocks are dried and used for food.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The rootstocks are dried and used for food.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: The rootstocks are dried and used for food.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

Caution advised with use.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Mongolia, North America, USA,

Notes

There are about 25 Equisetum species.

References (6)

  • Amer. J. Sci. Arts 46:87. 1844
  • Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
  • Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 338
  • Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 215
  • Urgamal, M., et al, 2014, Conspectus of the Vascular Plants of Mongolia. Mongolia Academy of Sciences Institute of Botany and National University of Mongolia Department of Biology. p 30
Show all 6 references
  • Yanovsky, E., 1936, Food Plants of the North American Indians. United States Department of Agriculture Miscellaneous Publication No 237. Washington, D.C. p 3

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