Taxonomy
Equisetum myriochaetum the giant horsetail. © M Christenhusz
Morphology
Equisetum myriochaetum has
- Stems 100 - 500 (- 800) cm x 7 -16 mm, with 16 - 44 ridges
- Branches regularly in whorls
- branches 6-8 ridges
- serrate with a profile of acute tubercles
- Sheaths at the nodes 9 - 20 x 6 -18 mm
- cylindrical
- green
- the teeth deciduous
- Stomata in simple lines between the ridges
- Strobili with an obtuse apex
Diagnostic description
Resembles Equisetum giganteum but can be easily distinguished by its
- branch ridges with an apically oriented saw-tooth pattern,
- narrower but much taller stems
- a single row (instead of 3 - 5 rows)
Lookalikes
Equisetum giganteum, Equisetum xylochaetum
Evolution
Equisetum myriochaetum belongs to the subgenus Hippochaete. It hybridises with Equisetum giganteum and Equisetum hyemale.