Family - Equisetaceae

Common Name - Water Horsetail

Habitats

Description of Genus

Perennial herbs with ridged stems. These stems are the primary organ for photosynthesis, while the leaves are reduced to a small collar around each node. The spores are produced in cones, which are found either on the end of normal vegetative shoots or on the end of special achlorophyllous shoots.

Habitat Notes

Only found in wetland habitats

Life History

UK distribution

Found in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. (See Map)

Sporulation

Spores mature during June and July.

Fruit

These plants do not have fruit as such, but the spores are released from a cone.

Flower

These plants do not have flowers. The cone releases spores, which grow into gametophytes. These gametophytes produce the sperm and eggs, which fuse and ultimately grow into a mature plant.

Names in other languages and countries

Sweden
sjöfräken
Dutch
hopijp
USA
Pipes

Chromosome Number (2N)

216

Latin Synonyms

Equisetum limosum