Wood horsetail

The upright stems of Wood horsetail grow from its perennial, branching rhizome. The plant has both fertile and sterile stems. The spores of Wood horsetail spread from the cones located on the top of fertile stems. Russet fertile stems later turn similar to sterile stems, light green and highly branched.

Wood horsetail thrives in several different habitats like spruce mires, damp and paludifying forests as well as meadows and field dykes. It's range spans over the whole Northern Hemisphere.

Wood horsetail, as well as other horsetail species, has been used as a medicinal plant to treat e.g. cough and wounds. Due to its high silicon content it was also used in the same way as sand paper.

Although Wood horsetail does not tolerate open regeneration areas, as a common species it requires no conservation measures in forestry to secure its occurrence.