Equisetum palustre Marsh Horsetail

A common horsetail in Britain found in wet palces such as damp grassland, marshes, ditches, flushes and shallow water but rarely in the markedly aquatic habitats preferred by Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile). It requires at least some  base-richness and avoids very acidic soils. Above ground parts die down in winter. The stems have whorls of slender branches with 4-8 furrows and the small central hollow is less than a quarter of the width, unlike the wide hollow found in Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile). It is easily confused with Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) but the length of the lowest internode section on the branches is shorter than the sheath adjacent on the stem and the sheaths have a broad, pale (scarious) border which contrasts with their black teeth. It is found in suitable places throughout West Glamorgan and may be under recorded.

Native