Variegated horsetail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Equisetum variegatum |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Equisetum
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| Species: |
variegatum
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| Synonyms | |
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Hippochaete variegata |
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Equisetum variegatum, often called variegated horsetail, is a special type of plant. It is part of the horsetail family, called Equisetaceae. You can find this plant all around the Northern Hemisphere. It grows in many northern parts of the world.
What it Looks Like
This plant can look a bit different depending on where it grows. Some types are distinct subspecies. Its stems can grow up to 40 centimeters tall. Sometimes they even reach 80 centimeters. But often, they are much smaller.
Some forms of this plant have stems that lie flat on the ground. Other forms grow straight up. The stems are usually a dark blue-green color. They feel rough if you touch them. The stems might not have any branches, or they might have branches growing from their base.
Each part of the stem has a black band around it. This band has dark teeth with white edges. At the very top of the stems, there is a small cone-like part. This cone is about 3 to 4 millimeters wide. It is usually green with a black, blunt tip.
Where it Lives
The variegated horsetail lives all around the northern part of the world. This is called a circumpolar distribution. You can find it in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. This includes places like Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands.
It also grows further south. In Europe, it reaches the Pyrenees and Apennines mountains. In Asia, it grows as far as Mongolia and Japan. In North America, you can find it in states like Connecticut, Wisconsin, and Oregon.
This plant likes open areas with lots of lime in the soil. It often grows in places that get flooded in winter. You can see it in wet spots between sand dunes. It also grows near mountain springs and next to lakes, rivers, and canals.
See also
In Spanish: Equisetum variegatum para niños
