The Rough Horse Tail Plant

Schaaf Straw (Equisetum hyemale) or barn cane is a perennial plant belonging to the horsetail family (Equisetaceae). The name comes from planing the rough straw stalk, which used to be used as an abrasive. The plant is native to Eurasia and North America. The plant is also used in the ornamental garden.

The plant is 40-90 cm tall and produces rhizomes. The very rough, dark blue or olive green, hollow stem is 3-6 mm thick. The cavity is two thirds or more of the diameter of the stem. The wreaths opposite leaves consist of small scales, where the leaf sheaths are mostly fused to a stalk sheath. Of up to 9 mm long, gray-green stengelscheden encircle the stem is very stiff. They have one or two blackish bands and dry greyish. The awl-shaped, dunvliezige, contorted positions fall off early, and the rest of the vagina is shallow jagged.

In June to August detect spikes appear at the top of the stems. The spikes are up to 2.5 cm long when ripe, they dry and fall off thereafter. As the plants grow strong shadows are usually not formed ears. The spike is conical and consists of hexagonal scales on the inside where the sporangium the spores are located.

The tracks have chlorophyll and two jump wires (elateren), in the dry state to trace his wound. When the spring wires get wet they stretch and push the spores out of the ear. There are two types of tracks, male and female. The spores grow into bacteria for bladgroenhoudendee (prothallia). At this stage takes place after fertilization the ponytail into a complete plant can grow. The prothallia are bound to a locality very open.

The plant is moist, moderately nutrient-poor soil in deciduous forests on sandy levees, railroads, quarries and sand dunes.



Names in other languages:

• German: Winter Schachtelhalm

• English: Rough Horsetail, Portrush Scouring

• French: Prêle d'hiver





Source: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schaafstro


See also: Sending Flowers, Online Florist