Equisetum arvense

Equisetum arvense
Photosynthetic summer branches

Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Subclass: Equisetidae
Order: Equisetales
Family: Equisetaceae
Genus: Equisetum
Subgenus: E. subg. Equisetum
Species:
E. arvense
Binomial name
Equisetum arvense
Synonyms
  • Allosites arvense Brogn.
  • Equisetum arvense fo. arcticum (Rupr.) M. Broun
  • Equisetum arvense fo. boreale (Bong.) Klinge
  • Equisetum arvense fo. campestre (Schultz) Klinge
  • Equisetum arvense fo. ramulosum (Rupr.) Klinge ex Scoggan
  • Equisetum arvense subsp. boreale (Bong.) Á. Löve
  • Equisetum arvense subsp. ramulosum (Rupr.) W.F. Rapp
  • Equisetum arvense var. arcticum Rupr.
  • Equisetum arvense var. campestre (Schultz) Rupr.
  • Equisetum arvense var. ramulosum Rupr.
  • Equisetum boreale Bong.
  • Equisetum calderi B. Boivin
  • Equisetum campestre Schultz
  • Equisetum saxicola Suksd.

Equisetum arvense, commonly known as field horsetail or common horsetail, is a species of vascular plant in the horsetail family Equisetaceae. Like all horsetails, it is a type of fern. It is native throughout the arctic and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It has two distinct growth forms, a fertile spore-bearing stem and a sterile green stem. It is sometimes confused with mare's tail, Hippuris vulgaris.