Field horsetail – Equisetum arvense
Equisetum arvense L.
Equisetaceae (Horsetail family)
MI Status
Native
Life cycle
Perennial, spore-producing plant.
Leaves
Not present.
Stems
Vegetative stems are green and branch in whorls. Stems may have a bottle-brush appearance and should not exceed 2 feet in height. Stems die back to the ground in winter.
Flowers and fruit
Erect, unbranched, white to brown fruiting stalks (stems) bear terminal spore-releasing cones. Flowers are not produced.
Reproduction
Spores and prolific rhizomes.
Similar weeds
Scouringrush (E. hyemale L.)
Differs by having larger evergreen stems with little or no branching. Grows only in wet areas.




Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
MSU Forestry online master’s program producing productive graduates
Published on September 20, 2024
-
CANR meets academic needs to prepare students for their futures
Published on February 1, 2020
-
Reciprocal Research: A Guidebook to Centering Community in Partnerships with Indigenous Nations
Published on April 22, 2021
-
MSU students partner with Michigan communities to improve trail access
Published on May 30, 2025
-
FSHN accepting applications for Academic Specialist-Teacher
Published on March 18, 2022
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.