Photo ©
Carl Farmer
13 Oct 2002 Portree
Common on waste ground, roadsides and grassland
Stems to 80 cm tall, diameter c 3-5 mm. Cones c 1-4 cm.
Skye ID: Stems branched, usually without sub-branches, or if so not regular like Wood Horsetail. Stem grooves less than 20. Lowest internode of branches longer than stem sheath. Branches not hollow, cross-shaped in cross section. Teeth of branches spreading, or at least lax, and pale.
Other features: Very variable, sometimes prostrate. Fertile stems brown, arising earlier than the sterile ones, not turning green but dying down after releasing spores.
