Equisetum telmateia subsp. braunii
Giant horsetail, Giant Horsetail
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Family: Equisetaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Equisetum telmateia subsp. braunii (Giant horsetail) is a native California herb in the Equisetaceae family, recognized by large size, grooved branch ridges, and coastal distribution.
Giant horsetail is a native perennial found in northwestern California, the high Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, central western California, and southwestern California in streambanks, roadside ditches, and seepage areas at elevations below 1,000 meters. Its fertile stems emerge early in the season, reaching 17 to 45 centimeters tall and appearing fleshy and brown, while sterile stems grow 30 to 100 centimeters tall in light green. Growing with distinctive segmented, jointed stems, this horsetail produces two types of annual stems: fertile stems that are ephemeral and sterile stems with prominent branch whorls. Its sterile stems feature characteristic sheaths 7 to 18 millimeters long with 14 to 28 dark teeth, and branches with 4 to 5 distinct grooved ridges. The plant's unique structural complexity allows it to thrive in moist, wet environments with its segmented, hollow stems typical of the horsetail family.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; distinguished by large size, grooved branch ridges, and coastal distribution
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streambanks, roadside ditches, seepage areas
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: Orange, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Alameda, Riverside, Marin, San Bernardino, Mendocino, Santa Barbara, Calaveras, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Sonoma, Sacramento, Solano, San Joaquin, Humboldt, Trinity, Plumas, Butte, Monterey, Yuba, Glenn, Shasta, Tehama, Amador, Siskiyou, Del Norte, Contra Costa, Lake, Mono, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Yolo, Placer, Napa
Outside California: along coast to British Columbia
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 telmateia subsp. braunii native to California?
Yes. Equisetum telmateia subsp. braunii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Equisetum telmateia subsp. braunii grow?
Equisetum telmateia subsp. braunii occurs in Orange, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego, Alameda, Riverside, Marin and other counties, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Equisetum telmateia subsp. braunii belong to?
Equisetum telmateia subsp. braunii is in the Equisetaceae family, genus Equisetum.
What habitat does Equisetum telmateia subsp. braunii grow in?
Equisetum telmateia subsp. braunii grows in Streambanks, roadside ditches, seepage areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.