Equisetum telmateia Great Horsetail

An unmistakable  tall, robust horsetail that can grow as high as 2m or more, which forms dense colonies in flushed habitats, ditches, roadsides, coal tips and railway embankments. It is fairly common throughout Britain except for Scotland and the upland areas of mid Wales. It can form large, dense colonies in suitable places as a result of vigorous rhizomatous growth. The smooth stems have lots of inconspicuous ridges and a wide central hollow (about two-thirds of the width). The pale colour of the stems contrast with the 20-30 black teeth on the sheaths. It is found throughout West Glamorgan, mostly in the South Wales Coalfield and most commonly in the valleys. However, it is uncommon in the coniferised areas and moorland habitats of the uplands, but it does colonise flushed areas on old coal tips. In some older field guides it is called Giant Horsetail but the name Great Horsetail is preferred to avoid confusion with the enormous, giant horsetails that occupied the swampy, fern-dominated forests of Carboniferous Period.

Native