Equisetum ramosissimum Desf.

Spice In the field 1 In the field 2

Family: EQUISETACEAE

Genus: Equisetum

Catalan common name: Cua de cavall. Ramosa. Trencanua.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Cosmopolitan and subcosmopolitan

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte. Nanophanerophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Humid soils.

Characteristics: A rhizomatous plant with articulated aerial stems, like all Equisetum. This species is characterized by its very thin stems, all fertile; in the spring forms the typical strobile (or cone), of sporophylls from the apex. Lives in wetter soils than the other Equisetum species, but can also be found in much drier regions, like roadsides. Equisetum telmateia, another species found on the islands, has much thicker stems, with the fertile and sterile stems different in form. Equisetum arvense, also cited in Mallorca, is actually very rare to this location. Fructifies in spring and summer.