Dutch rush, Scouring rush, Shave grass, Horsetail rush, Rough horsetail
Equisetum hyemale
Family: Equisetaceae
What it is like
An evergreen rush. It grows 1.2 m high. The stems are hollow and do not have leaves. They have 14-40 ridges along them. There are cones at the tips. These are 1-2 cm long. These are pointed.
There are about 25 Equisetum species. It can spread and become a problem. It is used in medicine.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in cool climates. It grows in moist soil and up to 20 cm of water. In N China it grows along the banks of streams between 100-3,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 3-10.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, China, Europe, Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mongolia, North America, Russia, Slovenia, Tasmania, Tibet, USA
How it is used for food
CAUTION: It should not be used in large amounts nor used for long periods of time. The leaves are boiled to make a drink. The stalk tops are dried then mashed and mixed with other foods. The dried rootstocks are used as a famine food.
It is a famine food.
Edible parts
Root, stem, leaves - drink
How it is grown
It can be grown by dividing the underground stem or rhizome. It can be grown by spores but this is difficult.
Its other names
Local names
Mhi-ke-ko-tsa, Zimska preslica