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Horsetails (Equisetaceae)
Horsetails are generally small "strange" looking plants. They grow from perennial creeping rhizomes, from which grow a single hollow, jointed stem, with bristle-like branches growing from the joints.

Horsetails reproduce by means of spores. The spores are contained in small cones at the tips of the stem or its branches, or sometimes on a separate stalk in the spring.

In prehistoric times, some plants of this family grew to be large trees. Fossil records show that at one time there were horsetails in New Zealand but they have long since died out. Unfortunately Equisetum arvense has been reintroduced in recent times and is now considered to be a weed pest.		 HelpkeyTree Genus
 - Equisetum
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 - Equisetum arvense
Species: Equisetum hyemale L.
An introduced species to New Zealand and a noxious weed.
 Another PhotoEquisetum hyemale
Common Name: Rough horsetail
Endemic: No
 Distribution: Christchurch
Species: Equisetum arvense L.
An introduced species to New Zealand, and considered to be a noxious weed.
 Another Photo
Common Name: Field Horsetail
Endemic: No
 Distribution: Isolated pockets from Auckland to Dunedin.
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