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Equisetum variegatum - Schleich. ex Web.&Mohr.

Common Name Variegated Horsetail, Variegated scouringrush, Alaskan scouringrush
Family Equisetaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards Large quantities of the plant can be toxic. This is because it contains the enzyme thiaminase[172], a substance that can rob the body of the vitamin B complex[65]. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase[172]. The plant also contains equisetic acid - see the notes on medicinal uses for more information[213].
Habitats Dunes, river banks, wet ground on mountains etc, to 480 metres[17].
Range Arctic and temperate regions of Europe, including Britain, N. America, central and northern Asia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Equisetum variegatum Variegated Horsetail, Variegated scouringrush, Alaskan scouringrush


USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 1: 42.
Equisetum variegatum Variegated Horsetail, Variegated scouringrush, Alaskan scouringrush
http://njflora.rutgers.edu/plants/

 

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Summary

Equisetum species - horsetail family are Creeping, perenial, Branching rootstocks, rooted at the nodes. The Arial stems may be annual or Perennial, are cylindrical, fluted, simple or with whorled branches at the jointed nodes. The internodes are usually hollow. The Surfaces of the stems are covered with Silica. The Cones are terminal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Equisetum variegatum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2. The seeds ripen from July to August.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


Horsetails have an unusual chemistry compared to most other plants[238]. They are rich in silica, contain several alkaloids (including nicotine) and various minerals[238]. Horsetail is very astringent and makes an excellent clotting agent, staunching wounds, stopping nosebleeds and reducing the coughing up of blood[254]. It helps speed the repair of damaged connective tissue, improving its strength and elasticity[254]. The plant has been used in the treatment of sore eyes[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The stems contain 10% silica and are used for scouring metal[4, 7, 20, 94, 102] and as a fine sandpaper[7, 54, 99, 257]. They can also be used as a polish for brass, hardwood etc[94]. The infused stem is an effective fungicide against mildew, mint rust and blackspot on roses[14, 18, 20, 54]. It also makes a good liquid feed[54].

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a moist but well-drained fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5[200, 238]. A very cold-hardy species tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c[200]. 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[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Spores - best collected as soon as they are ripe in the spring and surface-sown immediately on a sterile compost. Keep moist and pot up as soon as the plants are large enough to handle. Very difficult[200]. Division. The plants usually spread very freely when well sited and should not really need any assistance.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Mongolia, China (Jilin Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Sichuan Sheng, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu), Japan NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Québec, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), Greenland, United States (Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, Utah) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, Faroe Islands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Equisetum arvenseField HorsetailPerennial0.6 3-11  LMHSNDM234
Equisetum fluviatileSwamp Horsetail, Water horsetailPerennial1.2 0-0  LMHSNMWeWa222
Equisetum hyemaleDutch Rush, Scouringrush horsetail, Horsetail, Scouring Rush, Rough HorsetailPerennial1.0 3-11  LMHSNM223
Equisetum palustreMarsh HorsetailPerennial0.6 0-0  LMHSNMWe023
Equisetum pratenseMeadow HorsetailPerennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNM222
Equisetum scirpoidesDwarf scouring rushPerennial0.2 1-9 SLMHFSNMWe223
Equisetum sylvaticumWood Horsetail, Woodland horsetailPerennial0.6 0-0  LMHSM123
Equisetum telmateiaGiant HorsetailPerennial2.0 5-9  LMHSNM113

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Schleich. ex Web.&Mohr.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

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