![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Stems: deciduous, with branches; same stems sporing Jun-Jul |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spores: same stems sporing Jun-Jul |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
category
category
status
petals
(0)stem
stem
4-9(12) ribsstem
toxicity
18th Sept 2015, in the spoils, Coppermines Valley, Coniston. | Photo: © RWD |
This specimen is without any leaves, but most generally have leaves. [The similar Variegated Horsetail is always leafless but the main distinguishing feature of that is the thin pointed spire at the top of its cone which Marsh Horsetail lacks]. |
18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, freshfield, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
Up to 60cm high (this specimen held aloft to separate it from the other plants hiding it), growing in wet or marshy ground. |
18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, freshfield, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The branches are in rather sparse whorls. |
18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, freshfield, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
Branches highly variable in length even from the same node. Branches curved upwards. |
18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, freshfield, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
Ridges on the stem are rounded. Look at mid height of plant - the first section of the leaves is shorter than the corresponding length of the stem sheath, here it is half as long as the sheath. |
27th April 2015, Whiteford NNR, Glamorgan. | Photo: (CC by 2.0) Geoff Toone |
Another ripening spore head. |
18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, Freshfield, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The cones are on vegetative shoots which are often shorter than 60cm and less branched and rounded at the tips. |
18th Sept 2015, in the spoils, Coppermines Valley, Coniston. | Photo: © RWD |
18th Sept 2015, in the spoils, Coppermines Valley, Coniston. | Photo: © RWD |
18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, Freshfield, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The fertile cone at the summit of the stem. |
18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, Freshfield, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
This cone elongating. |
18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, Freshfield, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, Freshfield, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The teeth on the stems. |
18th May 2018, Alt Rifle Range, Freshfield, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The teeth on the branches, which have rounded terminations. |
18th Sept 2015, in the spoils, Coppermines Valley, Coniston. | Photo: © RWD |
These stems have somehow broken off revealing the very smallness of the central hole in relation to the thickness of the stem. |
8th June 2016, moist dunes, Hall Road, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
This specimen both branched and sporing. No, this specimen had not been half-buried through wind-blown sand. It was a very winmdy day and your Author was attempting to get a good contrasty photo of it, so he walked a few dozen yards and stuck it in the sand where the wind-speed was much lower and where the contrast between green horsetail and background colour would be much better. He was right! His previous attempts follow: .... |
8th June 2016, moist dunes, Hall Road, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The spore head has matured and extended well above the highest stem teeth. Original location - plant green, background green, contrast low! |
8th June 2016, moist dunes, Hall Road, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The sporing head in close-up. |
8th June 2016, moist dunes, Hall Road, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The topmost sheath teeth with their long teeth and thin, wide white margins. |
8th June 2016, moist dunes, Hall Road, Sefton Coast. | Photo: © RWD |
The branches lower down. |
Not to be semantically confused with : Horse-radish (Armoracia rusticana) , Horse-Chestnut, Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) nor to Hybridizes with :
Marsh Horsetail is also a toxic Horsetail, but apparently not to humans. It contains the same toxin Palustrine as is found in Great Horsetail. Palustrine is a
|
![]() |
palustre ![]() |
⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ |
Equisetaceae ![]() |
![]() Equisetum (Horsetails) |
![]() ![]() |