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Weed Identification
Australia > > Horsetail
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Horsetail
Equisetum hyemale |
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THIS PLANT IS ON THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ALERT LIST
http://www.weeds.gov.au/weeds/lists/alert.html
IMPORTANT: IF YOU SUSPECT THE PRESENCE OF THIS PLANT, PLEASE REPORT IT BY CALLING 1800 084 881 (local call cost anywhere in Australia)
or
REPORT IT ONLINE.
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Alternative Name(s): Dutch Rush, Scouring Rush
Family: Equisetaceae.
Form: Herb
Origin: Native of Europe, Asia and North America.
Flowers/Seedhead: Fertile stems end in club-shaped groupings of shield-shaped spore-bearing scales.
Description: Perennial fern ally with erect unbranched, mostly perennial, stems to 1.2 m high. Stems arise from extensive rhizomes. Stems unbranched, evergreen, 4–6 mm wide, with 8–34 grooves, ridges with two indistinct rows of wart-like structures (tubercles).
Distinguishing features: Distinguished by hollow (for about half to two-thirds of width), longitudinally grooved, jointed stems with leaves reduced to fused cup-shaped sheaths as long as wide above each joint and with teeth that are soon shed; fertile stems end in club-shaped structures 0.8–1.5 cm long.
Dispersal: Spreads primarily by rhizomes and root pieces.
Confused With: Other Equisetum species, see taxonomic texts for detailed distinguishing features.
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Stems are easily pulled apart at joints,
Mt Tomah, NSWphoto J.M.DiTomaso
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Notes: A garden escape that is extremely difficult to eradicate, especially in rocky soils. Grows mainly in damp places. Outbreaks have been controlled following spread from plantings in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and WA. Plants have a high silicon content and have been used for scouring pots, hence the common name, Scouring Rush.
References:Flora Europaea. Second edition. T. Tutin et al. (eds), 1993, Vol. 1, pages 7–8. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions
Web References: Search Australian web sites for further information on this weed.
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Spore producing cones,
leaves scale-like
at stem joints,
stems hollow,
California, USAphoto J.M.DiTomaso |
Common Horsetail,
Equisetum arvense,
Terry Hills, Sydney |
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This weed has been included in the WEEDeck field guide as card H53.
More information about WEEDeck is available from Sainty & Associates Pty. Ltd. It has also been included in the 'Jumping the Garden Fence' report (WWF-Australia PDF - 1.19mb) which examines the impact of invasive garden plants on Australian agricultural land and natural ecosystems.
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