Equisetaceae
Horsetail Family
1 genera
13 species
4 subspecies and varieties
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Equisetum arvensecommon horsetail, field horsetail
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America, except for the south-central and southeastern U.S., to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Moist to moderately dry, often disturbed places, from the lowlands to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Spores: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum ×ferrissiiFerriss' scouring rush
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum fluviatileriver horsetail, swamp horsetail, water horsetail
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory to Oregon, east to the northern Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Shallow water, marshes and bogs, along muddy shores, from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Spores: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum hyemalescouringrush horsetail , common scouring-rush
Distribution: Circumboreal; throughout the Pacific Northwest
Habitat: Moist to wet areas, lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
ssp. affine – common scouring rush, Dutch rush, prairie scouring rush
Equisetum laevigatumsmooth scouring rush
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum ×litoraleshore horsetail
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum ×mackaiismall scouring rush
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum ×nelsoniiNelson's horsetail
Origin: Native
Equisetum palustremarsh horsetail
Distribution: Circumboreal, south south in North America to southern Washington, northern Idaho, Nebraska and Pennsylvania.
Habitat: Streambanks, wet meadows, and marshes, from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum scirpoidessedgelike horsetail, dwarf scouring rush
Distribution: Circumboreal, south in North America to northeast Washington, east to northwest Montana, Minnisota, and New York.
Habitat: Moist, swampy places, especially in coniferous forests.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum sylvaticumwood horsetail, woodland horsetail
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in the northeastern counties in Washington; Alaska to Washington, east across southern Canada and the northern United States to the Atlantic Coast
Habitat: Shady coniferous forests, bog edges, and swamps
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum telmateiagiant horsetail
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to northern Idaho.
Habitat: Moist areas in the lowlands
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
ssp. braunii – giant horsetail, great horsetail
Equisetum variegatumvariegated horsetail, northern scouring-rush
Distribution: Alaska to Oregon, east across southern Canada and the northern third of the United States
Habitat: Wet places, sea level to alpine
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
ssp. alaskanum – Alaskan scouring rush
ssp. variegatum – variegated horsetail, northern scouring rush