Practical
Plants

Equisetum sylvaticum

Wood Horsetail

a perennial member of the Equisetum genus in the family Equisetaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Large quantities of the plant can be toxic. This is because it contains the enzyme thiaminase[3], a substance that can rob the body of the vitamin B complex[13]. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase[3]. The plant also contains equisetic acid - see the notes on medicinal uses for more information[7].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Strobil (the fertile shoots in spring) - cooked[4]. An asparagus substitute, though it is neither very palatable nor very nutritious. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Roots - cooked. A source of starch[4]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Root
Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Horsetails have an unusual chemistry compared to most other plants[8]. They are rich in silica, contain several alkaloids (including nicotine) and various minerals[8]. The plant is astringent, diuretic and styptic[10]. The barren stems are used, they are most active when fresh but can also be dried and sometimes the ashes of the pant are used[10]. The plant is a useful diuretic when taken internally and is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder problems, internal bleeding[10][9]. A decoction applied externally will stop the bleeding of wounds and promote healing[10][9].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Haemostatic
Product or use
Kidney
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Styptic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The stems can be used for scouring and polishing metal and as a fine sandpaper[10]. The stems are first bleached by repeated wetting and drying in the sun[14]. They can also be used as a polish for wooden floors and furniture[11][5]. The infused stem is an effective fungicide against mildew, mint rust and blackspot on roses[1]. It also makes a good liquid feed[12]. Used as a hair rinse it can eliminate fleas, lice and mites[7]. A light pink dye is obtained from the stem[15].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fungicide
Product or use
Hair care
Product or use
Sandpaper
Product or use
Scourer

Environment

Range
Temperate regions of Europe, including Britain, N. America and Asia.
Habitat
Damp woods on acid soils, moors etc[2].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Spores - best collected as soon as they are ripe in the spring and surface-sown immediately on a sterile compost. Keep moist and pot up as soon as the plants are large enough to handle. Very difficult[6]. Division. The plants usually spread very freely when well sited and should not really need any assistance.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a moist soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5[6]. Plants are hardy to about -30°c[6]. Plants have a deep and penetrating root system and can be invasive. If grown in the garden they are best kept in bounds by planting them in a large container which can be sunk into the ground[6].

References

  1. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩

  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  3. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  5. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  8. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  10. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  12. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩

  13. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  14. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

  15. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

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