Equisetum L.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Equisetaceae

• Scientific Name

  Equisetum L.

• Description

  Genus Description - Rhizomatous colonial perennials with annual or perennial green stems, the epidermis with silicified cell walls and often with regularly arranged silicified projections, so that the surface is minutely rough to the touch. 2n=216 or nearly so. 15, cosmop.

• Discussion

  Sterile but vegetatively vigorous and persistent hybrids are often produced between species of the same subgenus. Some of these are: E. ×ferrissii Clute = E. hyemale × laevigatum; E. ×litorale Kühlew. = E. arvense × fluviatile; E. ×nelsonii (A. A. Eaton) J. H. Schaffn. = E. laevigatum × variegatum; E. ×trachyodon A. Braun = E. hyemale × variegatum.

• Common Names

  horsetail, scouring rush