Water Horsetail Equisetum fluviatile L.

Description:  This plant's stem is hollow, jointed and rough.  It can grow to about 36'' tall and ¼'' wide. The leaves are very thin and look like pine tree needles.  They form in circles around the stems. The leaves are green with occasionally white narrow borders. They have short stemmed cones that are about 1'' long. The root stalks are hollow with a red coloring and are the same size as the stem.

Discussion:   They are one of the most ancient plants on Earth.  The plants absorb silica in solution and then it crystallizes in the plant.  The Native Americans used this plant as an abrasive (sand paper) and some people used it as a scouring pad for cleaning. Some people used to eat the early shoots. If someone had a kidney ailment they could use this plant for a type of medicine to treat it.  Insects do not eat this plant because of the silica.

Distribution:  This plant is found in swamps, along shores and sometimes in shallow standing water. They are also found in the Northern Hemisphere.

Location: At Volo Bog they were found in the area of marker #7.

© Copyright 2003, Taveirne Middle School, www.bighollow.us.  All rights reserved;  Photos courtesy of:  Katy K., Jennifer S., Joey W., and Nichole W. Text written by: Katy K., Jennifer S., Nichole W.

References: Eastman, John. Swamp and Bog:  Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers of Eastern Freshwater Wetlands.  Mechanicsburg, Pa:  Stackpole Books.  1995.  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/plantid2/descriptions/equflu.html

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