variegated scouring rush

(Equisetum variegatum ssp. variegatum)

Conservation Status

 

No image available

 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
Wetland Indicator Status
     
  Great Plains

FACW - Facultative wetland

     
  Midwest

FACW - Facultative wetland

     
  Northcentral & Northeast

FACW - Facultative wetland

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Variegated scouring rush is an erect, 4 to 18 tall, evergreen, unbranched perennial that rises from rhizomes.

The stems are erect, slender, 1 32 to 3 32 in diameter, green, unbranched, and hollow. They have 5 to 12 vertical ridges with silica deposits making them rough to the touch. They are evergreen, lasting more than one year. The central cavity is ¼ to the diameter of the stem. The portion of the stem between the nodes is up to several inches near the bottom, becoming progressively shorter as they ascend the stem.

The leaves are reduced in size, fused together for part of their length, and appressed against the stem, forming a collar-like sheath around the nodes. The sheaths are 1 16 to 3 16 long, poorly marked at the base, and slightly flared outwards at the tip. They are green with a black band at the tip only. At the tip of the sheath are 5 to 12 free lobes appearing as tiny teeth. The teeth have a black, 1 16 wide, 2-ridged stripe in the center and conspicuous white translucent margins. The teeth are not jointed and usually persist.

A solitary, spore-bearing cone is borne at the end of each fertile stem. The cone is small, long or less, circular in cross-section, and elliptic in long section. It ends with a small but conspicuous, abrupt, flexible point at the tip (apiculate). Infertile stems are similar to fertile stems but lack the terminal cone. The cone falls off after releasing spores.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

4 to 18

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

Scouring rush horsetail (Equisetum hymale ssp. affine) is a much taller plant, usually reaching 24 to 48 tall. The stems are much thicker, to ½ in diameter. The sheaths appear squarish, are tan, grayish, or white, and have a black band at both the base and the tip. There are 14 to 50 vertical ridges on the stem and the same number of teeth on the sheath. The teeth are jointed. The cone is longer, to 1 long.

Smooth scouring rush (Equisetum laevigatum) is a taller plant, reaching 12 to 36 tall. The stems are thicker, to 5 16 in diameter, lighter green, smooth to the touch, and annual. There are usually 16 to 30 vertical ridges on the stem and the same number of teeth on the sheath. The teeth are jointed and fall off promptly at maturity. The cone is longer, to 1 long, rounded at the tip, and often inconspicuously apiculate.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Wet. Thickets, bogs.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Sporulation

 
 

 

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

The stems are unbranched or have few irregular branches. They are coated with an abrasive silica, and were used for scrubbing cooking pots. This, along with their rush-like appearance, gave rise to the common name “scouring rush”.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 28, 29, 30.

 
  6/8/2023      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

 

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Polypodiophytina  
  Class Polypodiopsida (ferns)  
  Subclass Equisetidae (horsetails)  
 

Order

Equisetales (horsetails)  
 

Family

Equisetaceae (horsetail)  
 

Genus

Equisetum (horsetails)  
  Subgenus Hippochaete (scouring rushes)  
  Species Equisetum variegatum (variegated scouring rush)  
       
 

Monotypic genus, family, and order
There are 15 species of Equisetum, which is the only living genus in the family Equisetaceae, which is the only family in the order Equisetales, which is the only order in the class Equisetopsida.

Subgenus
The genus Equisetum is divided into two subgenera, Equisetum and Hippochaete. Field horsetail is one of the eight species in the subgenus Equisetum. Six of those eight species are found in North America. Five are found in Minnesota.

Living fossil
The history of Equisetum has been traced 300 million years to the Cretaceous period, and possibly to the Triassic period. That could make Equisetum the oldest living genus of vascular plants.

 
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Equisetum hyemale ssp. variegatum

Equisetum variegatum var. anceps

Hippochaete variegata

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

variegated horsetail

variegated scouring rush

variegated scouring-rush

variegated scouringrush

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Apiculate

Ending in a short, abrupt, flexible point.

 

Node

The small swelling of the stem from which one or more leaves, branches, or buds originate.

 

Rhizome

A horizontal, usually underground stem. It serves as a reproductive structure, producing roots below and shoots above at the nodes.

 
 
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Other Videos
 
  Northern Scouring Rush Horsetail Equisetum variegatum A Bush craft medicinal Herb
AdamSurvivingAmerica
 
   
 
About

Published on Sep 7, 2012

Information on scoring rush greater horsetail. Not to be confused with the field horestail. This is a video from my old channel, AccordingtoAdam1826, that was closed due to uncertain circumstances. We are back on the new channel, Adam hall000, and posting all of the old videos. These videos are property of Adam Hall.

This is in the horetail family and have an evergreen, hollow-stemmed, rough-surfaced, jointed primitive perennial. They can grow up to 5 feet. They have jointed, apparently leafless, rough, finley ribbed, nonbranching stems. They are found mostly in moist, sandy soils, along streambanks and pond edges. Used also as a scour pad. In Chinses medicine it is prescribed for swelling, rednedd of the eyes, and bleeding. Information found in Western Medicinal plants and herbs by Steven Foster and Christopher Hobbs.

This plant information and statements in these videos are for educational purposes only and should not be construed to be medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are unsure of the plant, don't eat it or touch it. We assume no legal liability or responsibility for injuries resulting from what you take out of the information provided in this video. Make sure you can positively identify a plant before eating it. Some plants are poisonous, and misidentification could possibly result in serious illness or death.

   

 

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