Field horsetail - a profile!
- Botanical name: Equisetum arvense
- other names: horsetail, pancake, scourer, cat's tail, ponytail
- Plant family: Horsetail family
- botanical family: ferns
- Occurrence: Northern hemisphere
- Height: up to 50 cm
- Location: compacted soils, indicator plant for high groundwater levels
- Reproduction: spores, subterranean runners
- Flowering / flowering period: no flowering, spore ear blooms from May
- Use of natural remedies: rheumatism, gout, sore throat, inflammation
- Use in the garden: fertilizers, pesticides
- Ingredients: silica, minerals, essential oils
One of the oldest land plants ever
Field horsetail is derived from horsetail that has existed in the world for around 400 million years. It is believed that the plant already existed on the primeval continent of Gondwana.
also read
- Make field horsetail manure yourself
- Horsetail - ornamental and useful herb. A personal description
- Which horsetail is poisonous?
Based on fossil finds, it is likely that the original species could reach heights of up to 30 meters.
Visual appearance of the field horsetail
Outwardly, field horsetail resembles a coniferous plant. The rungs consist of tube-like sections that appear to be nested on top of each other.
Like all ferns, horsetail does not develop any blossoms, but spore ears. They appear first from March to May and then retreat into the ground. Then the leaves of the field horsetail grow, which are green in color.
Field horsetail is not poisonous in contrast to the marsh horsetail (Equisetum palustre), which is especially dangerous for grazing animals. You should therefore only pick field horsetail in nature if you are absolutely certain. Unfortunately, the two species can only be found in a few Distinguish features.
Use of horsetail in naturopathy
Field horsetail can not only be used in the garden as fertilizer or use plant protection, the herb also has its place in natural medicine. It contains, among other things:
- Silica
- Saponins
- Minerals
- essential oils (camphor oil)
The herb is recommended dried or fresh, among other things, for inflammation, rheumatism, gout and osteoarthritis.
Tips
The horsetail owes its name to the fact that it used to be used to clean and polish pewter dishes. The silica crystals contained in the herb have a rough consistency and also loosen stubborn dirt residues.
