Horsetails (Scouringrushes) (Equisetum spp.) (Nox)

Invasiveness Assessment - Common Horsetail | Invasiveness Assessment - Branched Horsetail | Invasiveness Assessment - Marsh Horsetail

Potential Distribution - Marsh Horsetail | Potential Distribution - Branched Horsetail

Scientific name: Equisetum spp.

Common name: Horsetails

Status: State Prohibited Weed.

Habitat: Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense): Cold to warm temperate regions where the annual average temperatures vary from <5�C to >20�C, and annual rainfall from 100 to 2000 mm, mainly on neutral to slightly basic gravelly sandy or silty clay loams where the water table is high, extending at times into acid soils (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). It is a weed of damp open woodlands, pastures, arable lands, roadsides, streambanks and embankments (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992).

Branched Horsetail (Equisetum ramossissimum): Humid to cool regions in arid and high rainfall areas (Litvinova 1972, Madhusoodanan et al 1993). It is a weed of horticultural areas (vineyards and citrus orchards), lowland high-grass meadows, flood terraces and valleys (Babaev 1974, Maillet, 1980, Litvinova 1972, Protopapadakis 1985, Zaragoza and Maillet 1980).

Marsh Horsetail (Equisetum paulstre): Cold and temperate regions in sun and semi-shade, preferring nutrient-rich soils (Fronhe and Pfander 1983, Rook 1999). It is a weed of streams, ponds, marshes, wooded swamps and other wet places (Hauke 1978).

Related Links

Weed Identification Note for Horsetail and Common Horsetail - on the Weeds Australia website (external link). Information is provided on the generalised current distribution in Australia as well as other information such as origin, distinguishing features, dispersal etc.

Further information on Horsetails can be found on the DPI Website.

A Weed Management Guide for Horsetails is available on the CRC website (external link)

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