Equisetum pratense
Meadow horsetail | |
---|---|
Equisetum pratense | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Division: | Polypodiophyta |
Class: | Polypodiopsida |
Subclass: | Equisetidae |
Order: | Equisetales |
Family: | Equisetaceae |
Genus: | Equisetum |
Subgenus: | E. subg. Equisetum |
Species: | E. pratense
|
Binomial name | |
Equisetum pratense Ehrh., 1784
|
Equisetum pratense, commonly known as meadow horsetail, shade horsetail or shady horsetail, is a widespread horsetail (
Description
Equisetum pratense has whitish-green and slender sterile stems that grow 15–52.5 cm (5.9–20.7 in) tall, with 8 to 20 ridges that bear three rows of flat spinules. The centrum is approximately one sixth of the diameter of the stem. The pale sheaths bear slender brown teeth with white margins.[1]
Strobili containing the sporangium with the spores mature in late spring.[2][3] The cone like strobilus is only present in the spring shoot which grows to resemble the coneless summer shoot.[2]
Habitat
Equisetum pratense occurs in
The plant is widespread, occurring from Iceland and northern Britain and Northern Ireland through northern and central Europe as far south as the Alps. It grows across most of northern Asia to Japan and through northern parts of North America from Alaska to Labrador.[4]
Toxicity
Equisetum pratense contains the enzyme thiaminase which destroys thiamine (vitamin B1). In sufficient quantity it is therefore toxic.[5]
References
- ^ ISBN 0-442-22250-5.
- ^ ISBN 951-0-23001-4.
- ^ "Equisetum pratense". eFloras. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ISBN 9780521586580.
- ^ "Equisetum pratense". Retrieved 2020-06-24.