As I enter the greenness of my garden I glance at the brilliant hibiscus blossoms, brush my hand across the pineapple sage, nibble on a peppermint leaf and head for the pond. Others may exclaim over the lotus and lilies, but my eyes light up as I view the pointed, green cylinders aiming skyward. A large, ruby dragonfly rests on one of the tall spikes. I and the gossamer winged aviator prefer the same plant, Equisetum hyemale or the common horsetail.
My thoughts drift back to when I was nine years old. My friend and I would ride her pony through the Iowa timberland to our favorite resting spot by the creek. There, regardless of if we were playing Indians on a bare backed horse or grand ladies in our mothers silk pajamas, we would stop and play with the "snake plant". It was a puzzle--who could pull apart its segments and reassemble the spike first. We would pick more and carefully carry this wonderful plant back to share with our families. Out of kindness they neglected to make us aware that across the Iowa countryside war was waging against ditches full of our beloved find.
As an adult I am still in love with those "toys" of my childhood. My horsetails at the pond's edge are a salute to an ancient plant. Giant relatives of today's Equisetum were prominent during the Coal Age, in a world dominated by amphibians and insects. Today these tree sized plants exist only as coal deposits formed when their organic remains were compressed, but their smaller descendants are found everywhere on earth except Antarctica, New Zealand and Australia.
The primitiveness of horsetails is indicated by their lack of flowering. Reproduction occurs by spores rather than seeds. As with ferns, both sterile and reproductive forms of the plants exist. Spores are produced by small specialized stems that are topped with cone like structures called strobili. It is within these that spores are produced. The spores are then released and form the minuscule reproductive forms of the plants that are involved with fertilization.
Historically, the horsetails were often known as scouring rushes. A handful would clean a pot, polish pewter or smooth wood. The mild abrasive action due to the high silica content of the plants is still used by campers today. When my horsetail needs thinning I make a new supply of pot scrubber "butterflies" by taking handfuls of five inch pieces and binding them in the middle with rubber bands.
Equisetum has also been used medicinally. it has a mild diuretic action that some herbalists recommend for urinary disorders. It has also been used externally to stop bleeding. Exercise caution when considering internal use of horsetails. the plants themselves contain equisetine, a compound that can be a nerve poison if consumed in large amounts. There have been reports of children being poisoned after using the stems as blowguns or straws. Horses who have eaten large amounts of horsetails have exhibited vitamin B1 deficiency, but the exact mechanism of action is unknown. The plants are also able to pick up compounds from the soil they grow in. Selenium, gold and mercury are some of the compounds found when stems are analyzed. While gold may be useful in treating arthritis, high amounts of selenium can cause birth defects if used by pregnant women, and mercury has well known toxic effects.
The fact that horsetails are able to pick up heavy metals from the soil suggests that they may be useful in the developing field of phytoremediation, which uses plants to remove toxic contaminants from the soil. Analysis of stem contents may also help in identification of areas containing ore deposits.
Horsetails are relatively easy to cultivate if adequate water is provided. Constant moisture is not necessary, but they will thrive in a bog type environment and do well in up to six inches of water. They will grow in all soil types and prefer full sun or partial shade. When given proper growing conditions they become very aggressive so it is best to cultivate them in a pot. An attractive garden display can be made by growing them in a bucket sunk into the ground. A few drainage holes will help keep the pot fresh, but remember, this is a plant that grows at pond's edge, so water it frequently.
Divide and trim your Equisetum freely as it begins to grow out of bounds. it has great decorative potential. Large bunches tied with red ribbon can cover a holiday mantle. The green stems will add interest to flower arrangements, or tie a delicate bunch with lace and lay on a table or bench. These interesting plants always draw comments and can be a real conversation starter. Replace coffee table books with coffee table plants!!!