Equisetum variegatum 班紋木賊

Common name: Variegated Horsetail
Scientific name: Equisetum variegatum 班紋木賊
Genus: Equisetum 木賊屬
Family: Equisetaceae 木賊科, horsetail family

Origin: native

Date: 5th July

[240] Evergreen perennial, can grow up to 60 cm.

Stem prostrate to erect.

[253] Stem erect or semi-prostrate..
Stem branched at base or with few single branches at each node further up stem (could not be seen in above photo). Sometimes unbranched.

 

[225_4] Stem blue-green, rough, with 4-10 ridges.
Stem sheath with black band at base, teeth with broad pale border and black midrib.
(Stem sheath black with colorless (scarious 乾膜質的) teeth -- provide the name 'variegatum')

[225_5] Stem sheath at lower stem node.

[227_1] Stem tip with no cones.

[229_1] Cone seems to be forming in this stem.

[230_1] Top of the stem.

[223_1] Cone is developing.

[225_1] Terminal cone (strobilus) 孢子葉球 with a conical peak.

[232_1] Cone with yellow, hexagonal sporangiophores 孢(子)囊柄.

[234_1] Withering cone.

[237_1] Withering cone.

[263_2] Cross-section of the stem showing 6 ridges (R) (4-10 ridges) and 6 alternate furrows (F). Ridges are supported by sclerenchyma (S) 厚壁組織. There is a small central hollow- pith cavity (Pc) 髓腔surrounded by 6 vascular bundles (Vc) 維管束 and 6 vallecular canals (Vc) 糟腔.