Equisetum arvense Field horsetail (Equisetaceae)

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Equisetum arvense
Field horsetail
(1 Page of 5)

The Equisetum arvense plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Equisetaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Field horsetail.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Equisetum arvense
Common Name:  Field horsetail
Family:  Equisetaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  Large quantities of the plant can be toxic. This is because it contains the enzyme thiaminase[172], a substance that can rob the body of the vitamin B complex[65]. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase[172]. The plant also contains equisetic acid - see the notes on medicinal uses for more information[213].

Mature Height:  0.6   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Open fields, arable land, waste places, hedgerows and roadsides[9], usually on moist soils[4].

Edible Uses: Strobil (the fertile shoots in spring) - cooked and used as an asparagus substitute[7, 46, 61, 94]. They should be used when young[116] but even so it is probably best to change the water, perhaps 3 - 4 times[85, 102]. One report says that they can be eaten raw[172], they are peeled and the shoot tip is discarded[213]. It is said to be a very tedious operation and they should not be eaten raw in any quantity, see the notes above on toxicity[K]. Some native tribes liked to eat the young vegetative shoots, picked before they had branched out, and would often collect them in great quantity then hold a feast to eat them[257]. The leaf sheaths were peeled off and the stems eaten raw - they were said to be 'nothing but juice'[257]. Roots - raw[61]. The tuberous growths on the rhizomes are used in the spring[172]. The black nodules attached to the roots are edible[257]. It takes considerable effort to collect these nodules so it is normally only done in times of desperation. However, native peoples would sometimes raid the underground caches of roots collected by lemmings and other rodents in order to obtain these nodules[257]. A further report says that the peeled stems, base of the plant, root and tubers were eaten raw by the N. American Indians, the report went on to say that this may be inadvisable[85].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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