Equisetum palustre
Marsh horsetail
(c) Timothy McNitt, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Timothy McNitt · licence
Family: Equisetaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 3
Equisetum palustre (Marsh horsetail) is a native California herb in the Equisetaceae family, recognized by but very limited range; distinguished by hollow branches and geographic restriction.
Marsh horsetail is a native perennial found in northern California Coast Ranges and the San Francisco Coast Ranges in marshes at elevations below 300 meters. Reproductive timing is not specified in available data, but the plant produces green stems distinctive in structure. Growing 20 to 80 centimeters tall, this horsetail develops annual stems with distinctive segmented architecture. Its stems feature 4 to 6 rounded ridges and are distinctively hollow, with branch sheaths 4 to 9 millimeters long and bearing 5 to 10 teeth. Each branch sheath is longer than wide, with teeth measuring 2 to 5 millimeters and standing free from the main stem structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species but very limited range; distinguished by hollow branches and geographic restriction
Habitat and range
Habitat: Marshes
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: Oregon to Alaska, eastern North America
Conservation status
CNPS 3
How to tell it apart
vs Foeniculum: Equisetum has scale-like leaves in whorls; Fennel has feathery, thread-like leaf divisions.; vs Hippuris: Equisetum has fused scale-like leaves at joints; Hippuris has separate linear leaves in whorls.; vs Juncus: Equisetum stems have distinct joints with leaf whorls; Juncus stems are smooth without joints.; vs Elegia: Equisetum stems are rough and hollow with whorled scales; Elegia has smooth stems with overlapping leaf sheaths.; vs Pinus: Equisetum is an herbaceous plant with jointed stems; Pine is a woody tree with needle clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Equisetum palustre native to California?
Yes. Equisetum palustre is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Equisetum palustre belong to?
Equisetum palustre is in the Equisetaceae family, genus Equisetum.
Is Equisetum palustre rare or endangered?
Equisetum palustre carries California Rare Plant Rank 3, state rank S1S3.
What habitat does Equisetum palustre grow in?
Equisetum palustre grows in Marshes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.