The flowering
structure of Equiseturn is
the sporophyll borne at the stem terminal.
The leaves of the
horsetail family are scale-like and are
marginally united into a sheath around each
node. The obvious feature of scouring rush is
the evergreen stem which is hollow,
conspicuously jointed and furrowed by many
ridges. The stems look like bamboo canes without
leaves.
Invasive and
difficult to get rid of once it gets
established. Called scouring rush because it
contains silica crystals in the plant tissue
which work as an abbrasive.
Equisetum is from
equus for
horse and seta for bristle. The barren stems
supposedly made one think of a horse's tail.
