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Equisetum pratense - Ehrh.

Common Name Meadow Horsetail
Family Equisetaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
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 Grassy stream banks, up to 900 metres[17]
Range Arctic and temperate regions of Europe, including Britain, N. America, central and northern Asia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Equisetum pratense Meadow Horsetail


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fabelfroh
Equisetum pratense Meadow Horsetail
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Equisetum_pratense0.jpg

 

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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 pratense is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. The seeds ripen in April.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Roots - raw or cooked[46, 61, 85, 161, 257]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. A further report says that the peeled stems, base of the plant, root and tubers were eaten raw by the N. American Indians, the report went on to say that this may be inadvisable[85].

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].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a moist soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5[200]. Plants are hardy 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:

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: Georgia, Russian Federation (Cukotskij avtonomnyj okrug, Sakhalin), China, Japan NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Yukon), United States (Alaska, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Idaho, Montana) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Russian Federation (Saratov, Volgogradskaja oblast), Ukraine, Croatia, Italy, Romania, Slovenia

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 scirpoidesDwarf scouring rushPerennial0.2 1-9 SLMHFSNMWe223
Equisetum sylvaticumWood Horsetail, Woodland horsetailPerennial0.6 0-0  LMHSM123
Equisetum telmateiaGiant HorsetailPerennial2.0 5-9  LMHSNM113
Equisetum variegatumVariegated Horsetail, Variegated scouringrush, Alaskan scouringrushPerennial0.6 0-0  LMHSNDM023

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

Ehrh.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Annoyed but hopeful   Fri Mar 18 22:37:40 2005

The Meadow Horsetail (or Snake Grass as we call it) is taking over our year. I might not mind , but it's getting to 6 or 7 feet. It's killing bushes in our yard and just last year it got into my flower beds. I care a lot about my flower beds and I would really prefer that this plant didn't choke out my beautiful lillies. I know most people consider this a plant, but since we haven't been able to get rid of it, and at the rate in which it spreads and grows, it's nothing but a weed in my yard. If you have any suggestions as to how to get rid of it, it would be very much appreciated. Also, we have tried everything. We've even had to use chemicals illegally (not diluted). NOthing has seemed to work. So if anyone has any ideas, please contact me at [email protected]. Thank you so much.

Alan   Thu Jul 20 2006

Royal Horticultural Society Advice: Controlling field horsetail

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