Equisetum
horsetail, scouring-rush
13 species
3 subspecies and varieties
3 subspecies and varieties
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Equisetum arvense – common 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
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 ×ferrissii – Ferriss's horsetail, Ferriss's scouring rush
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Dry to wet, often disturbed areas, including gravelly roadsides.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Dry to wet, often disturbed areas, including gravelly roadsides.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum fluviatile – river horsetail, swamp horsetail, water horsetail
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska 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
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska 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 hyemale – scouring rush horsetail , common scouring rush
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Moist to wet areas, lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Moist to wet areas, lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. affine – common scouring rush, Dutch scouring rush, prairie scouring rush
Equisetum laevigatum – smooth scouring rush
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washngton; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Wet places, including meadows and streambanks, at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washngton; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Wet places, including meadows and streambanks, at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum palustre – marsh horsetail
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across the northern U.S. and Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Streambanks, wet meadows, and marshes, from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across the northern U.S. and Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Streambanks, wet meadows, and marshes, from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum scirpoides – sedgelike horsetail, dwarf scouring rush
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; Alaska to Washington, east across the northern U.S.and Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Moist, swampy places, especially in coniferous forests.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; Alaska to Washington, east across the northern U.S.and Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Moist, swampy places, especially in coniferous forests.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum sylvaticum – wood 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; circumboreal.
Habitat: Shady coniferous forests, bog edges, and swamps
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
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; circumboreal.
Habitat: Shady coniferous forests, bog edges, and swamps
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Equisetum telmateia – giant horsetail
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to northern Idaho; Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East.
Habitat: Moist areas in the lowlands.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to northern Idaho; Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East.
Habitat: Moist areas in the lowlands.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. braunii – giant horsetail, great horsetail
Equisetum variegatum – variegated horsetail, northern scouring rush
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east across southern Canada and the northern third of the United States to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Wet places, from sea level to alpine.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east across southern Canada and the northern third of the United States to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Wet places, from sea level to alpine.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. variegatum – variegated horsetail, northern scouring rush
