EQUISETUM PALUSTRE: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, PROPERTIES, CULTIVATION - BIOLOGY - 2025

Equisetum palustre is a perennial shrub species with an erect and highly branched stem belonging to the Equisoceae family. Known as swamp horsetail, short beard, horsetail, knucklehead or pinillo, it is a species of Eurosiberian distribution.

In the wild, it is found in prairies with humid soils, on the fringes of streams or flooded meadows, in marshy lands and ponds. It is characterized by the very sharp apex pods that arise from its stems and, unlike E. arvense, it does not produce fertile stems.

Equisetum palustre. Source: Petr Filippov

Another way to differentiate the species of the genus Equisetum is found in the size of the second basal internode of each branch. In E. palustre this basal internode is shorter than the microfilic sheath or modified leaves.

On the other hand, the absence in E. palustre of a medullary canal at the rhizome level is a distinctive character. In fact, it represents the best feature of differentiation with the other species of the genus Equisetum.

Equisetum palustre is a highly toxic plant for certain herbivorous animals, but fortunately it is harmless to humans. It contains enzymes that degrade vitamin B ^1, causing motor imbalance in horses, or the alkaloid piperidine that causes lameness in cattle.

General characteristics

Rhizome

Externally, it has a dark brown or black color due to the fact that the epidermis is totally suberified. This suberification reaches the outermost layer of the cortical parenchyma, which is made up of 4-6 layers of cells with a high content of amyloplasts.

Stems

- Species: Equisetum palustre L.

Synonyms

- Equisetum majus Garsault.

- Equisetum braunii J.Milde.

Etymology

- Equisetum: the generic name derives from the Latin equus = horse and seta = bristle or mane, since the aerial stems resemble the tail of the horse.

- palustre: the specific epithet comes from the Latin paluster (palustris) = swampy or boggy, which lives in these places.

Stems with branches of Equisetum palustre. Source: Stefan.lefnaer

Habitat and distribution

This species is native to the icy regions of North America and Eurasia. In addition, it is distributed throughout Europe and the circumpolar region up to altitude mountain levels (0-1,900 meters above sea level).

It generally grows in humid and flooded places, along with swampy environments, on the banks of streams and streams. During spring they maintain a uniform green hue until the end of autumn. Sporulation occurs between June and September.

It prefers sandy soils and wet banks, on the margins of rivers and water courses within the Mesomediterranean bioclimatic floor. It is characterized by deciduous forests in humid environments and trough areas, in association with Equisetum ramosissimum, Saccharum ravennae or Populus alba.

Medicinal properties

The chemical composition of the various species that make up the genus Equisetum give it particular curative and therapeutic properties. The Equisetum palustre species is rich in mineral elements, flavonoids, saponosides and organic acids, but it contains some alkaloids that can be toxic.

Ripe, not tender stems should be selected, which are harvested during the summer and left to dry in a cool, dry place. These stems are stored to later prepare infusions, juices, decoctions, syrups, lotions, powder extracts, essences or macerates.

Among the main benefits of this plant, the remineralization of the bone system, cell regeneration and the strengthening of nails and scalp stand out. Likewise, it is effective in reducing inflammation and healing wounds, regulating internal bleeding and contributing to weight reduction due to its diuretic effect.

Antimicrobial

The presence of saponins and flavonoids prevents the appearance of fungal or bacterial diseases on the skin. This antimicrobial capacity is highly effective for the treatment of external wounds and their disinfection.

Healing

The amount of tannins present in Equisetum provides an astringent effect to alleviate bleeding problems. Indeed, the consumption of horsetail can soothe problems of hemorrhoids, mouth and internal ulcers, as well as reducing inflammation of the throat.

Cholesterol

Substances high in tannins have been experimentally proven to lower cholesterol levels. In this case, frequent consumption of horsetail reduces bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases good cholesterol (HDL) levels.

Fertile structure or strobilus of Equisetum palustre. Source: AnRo0002

Diuretic

The mineral salts and flavonoids present in this plant favor urination and increase urinary flow. This effect contributes to disorders related to fluid retention, urinary system infection, kidney stones or urinary tract.

Remineralizer

The silicon present in horsetail contributes to the regulation of bone density in our body. The usual decoctions are recommended for the natural treatment of osteoporosis and arthrosis.

View

The anti-inflammatory potential allows to reduce ocular tension, favoring the treatment of eye diseases such as glaucoma. The application of compresses on the eyes with an extract made from fresh and dried stems of the plant is recommended.

Hair

Frequent bathing with a horsetail-based tonic can reduce the loss of fine and weakened hair. This is because the high silicon content in the plant is closely associated with hair health, providing shine, body and strength to the hair.

Contraindications

The high content of certain alkaloids, mainly palustrin, make marsh horsetail a toxic plant. For this reason, it is very important to select only the mature stems, discarding the green and very tender parts.

On the other hand, it should not be consumed when you have drunk alcohol or when you have irritated gastric mucosa. In fact, the intake of this and other medicinal herbs is restricted while undergoing medical treatment or taking anti-inflammatory drugs.

Equisetum palustre in its natural environment. Source: Mars 2002

Culture

The species Equisetum palustre grows and develops effectively in pH neutral soil, acidic to slightly alkaline, being undemanding in fertility. Its root system or rhizome develops vigorously in soils with a sandy-loam texture, generally humid or saturated.

Since it is recommended to sow on the banks of streams or ponds, irrigation seeks to keep the land constantly moist. In fact, planted in pots requires that the containers maintain a water level that favors the waterlogging of the medium.

Regarding its lighting requirements, it is undemanding, since it can be placed in semi-shade or directly in the sun. With regard to thermal requirements, it is a tolerant species to occasional frosts.

It does not need any type of pruning, only the removal of damaged stems. Regarding the incidence of pests and diseases, Equisetum palustre is a rustic species that is not affected by any pest of economic interest.

References

1. Horsetail (Equisetum palustre) (2018) Flora and fauna of Malpica de Tajo. Recovered in: acorral.es
2. Equisetum palustre L. (2018) Herbarium Network of Northeast Mexico. Recovered in: herbanwmex.net
3. Iranzo, J., Vilar, M., & Salvo, AE (1985). Contributions to the knowledge of the genus Equisetum LI Description of the microcharacters of E. palustre L. Acta Bot. Malac, 10, 33-40.
4. Properties of horsetail (2018) Medicinal Plants. Recovered in: deplantasmedicinales.net
5. Horsetail toxicity (2018) Botanical Online. Recovered at: botanical-online.com
6. Wikipedia contributors. (2019). Equisetum palustre. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: en.wikipedia.org