What is Equisetum spp?
Equisetum is a genus containing around 18 herbaceous perennials also known by the names Horsetail, Snake Grass and Puzzlegrass. They resemble reeds and consist of photosynthetic, green, hollow, unbranched, jointed and ridged stems with reduced, usually non-photosynthesising leaves.
What is Equisetum used for?
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is an herbal remedy that dates back to ancient Roman and Greek times. It was used traditionally to stop bleeding, heal ulcers and wounds, and treat tuberculosis and kidney problems. The name Equisetum is derived from the Latin roots equus, meaning “horse,” and seta, meaning “bristle.”
Why is Equisetum a living fossil?
Equisetum is a “living fossil”, the only living genus of the entire subclass Equisetidae, which for over 100 million years was much more diverse and dominated the understorey of late Paleozoic forests. Despite centuries of use in traditional medicine, there is no evidence that Equisetum has any medicinal properties.
What is the common name of Equisetum?
Horsetail
Horsetail, (genus Equisetum), also called scouring rush, fifteen species of rushlike conspicuously jointed perennial herbs, the only living genus of plants in the order Equisetales and the class Equisetopsida.
Is horsetail poisonous to humans?
Horsetail is a plant. There have been reports of horsetail products being contaminated with a related plant called Equisetum palustre. This plant contains chemicals that can poison cattle, but toxicity in people has not been proven.
Is giant horsetail poisonous?
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is not poisonous to dogs, but is toxic to livestock. Ingesting dried horsetail leads to poisoning in horses. Signs of horsetail poisoning are weakness, weight-loss, clumsiness, breathing difficulties and in severe cases, death.
Can you drink horsetail?
Horsetail is mostly consumed in the form of tea, which is made by steeping the dried herb in hot water, though it’s also available in capsule and tincture form. Horsetail is a fern that contains many beneficial compounds, notably antioxidants and silica. It’s found in the form of tea, tinctures, and capsules.
How fast does horsetail grow?
Horsetail will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade….Horsetail Reed Grass.
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Is Horseweed poisonous to dogs?
Horseweed poisoning in dogs is a result of the ingestion of the plant, horseweed. Although reactions from the toxic agents may be mild to moderate, a veterinary visit is still necessary for dogs to effectively recover. Vet bills can sneak up on you.
What are the different types of Equisetum plants?
Two Equisetum plants are sold commercially under the names Equisetum japonicum (barred horsetail) and Equisetum camtschatcense (Kamchatka horsetail). These are both types of E. hyemale var.
Is the Equisetum plant poisonous to Triceratops?
Equisetum is a genus of vascular plants known as horsetails. Horsetails are known to be edible plants, however, for some grazing animals, excessive ingestion of these plants is known to be poisonous. Large species of Equisetum are edible plants for Triceratops.
Where does the genus Equisetum live in the world?
The genus Equisetum as a whole, while concentrated in the non-tropical northern hemisphere, is near- cosmopolitan, being absent only from Antarctica, though they are not known to be native to Australia, New Zealand nor the islands of the Pacific.
How tall does an Equisetum plant grow to be?
The hollow, jointed, stems of equisetum are the plant structure familiar to most people. Equisetum species found in other continents have similar growth habits that reach heights of 25 feet. The stems of equisetum contain high concentrations of silica and were once used to scour and clean various surfaces – hence the name scouring rush.