Equisetum arvense 問荊、杉菜

Common name: Field Horsetail
Scientific name: Equisetum arvense 問荊、杉菜
Genus: Equisetum 木賊屬
Family: Equisetaceae 木賊科, horsetail family

Origin: native

Date: 4th June

[066] Deciduous erect or prostrate perennial, can reach up to 80 cm.

[080] Fully branched shoots.

[074] The top of the individual. 

[076] Branching.

[089] Lowest branch segments (blue arrow) as long as,
or longer than the stem sheath (red rectangle).

[070] Found a node with lowest branch segment as long as the stem sheath.

[069] Stem sheath teeth with black tips, but without pale margins (lacks membranous margins).

(vs stem sheath teeth black with conspicuous pale border (membranous margins) in marsh horsetail, Equisetum palustre 犬問荊)

[073] Internode. Note the green, spreading branch teeth.

[078] Stem smooth, with 8-20 ridges. (vs 5-9 ridges in marsh horsetail, Equisetum palustre 犬問荊)

[076_1] Branches 4-angled. Green branch teeth with a tiny black tip. (vs dark-tipped teeth on side branches in   marsh horsetail, Equisetum palustre 犬問荊)

[076_2] Totally green branch teeth.

[075_1] Branches sub-branched.

[075_2] Enlarged photo above to show the sub-branching.

[082_1] Stem cross-section showing 10 ridges (8-20 ridges).