Equisetum telmateia Ehrh.

Spice Detail In the field In the field 2

Family: EQUISETACEAE

Genus: Equisetum

Catalan common name: Coa de cavall. Coa de rossí. Cua d'egua. Cua de cavall grossa. Equiset màxim. Herba estanyera. Trencanua.

Spanish common name: Cola de caballo. Equiseto mayor.

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

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

Uses and properties: Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Marshes and torrents.

Characteristics: Like all horsetails, this species has an underground rhizome which grows aerial branches with the typical articulate structure, with the nodes covered with very thin branches. In this case the aerial branches are thick and weak, and the internodes are white, this feature allows us to distinguish it from other species of Equisetum. The fruits appear at the tip of the fertile stems, which are different from the sterile ones. It lives near canals and torrents (dry river beds) in very shady, moist places. It bears fruit at the end of winter and in spring.