Equisetum giganteum

Taxobox
name = "Equisetum giganteum"

---

image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pteridophyta
classis = Equisetopsida
ordo = Equisetales
familia = Equisetaceae
genus = "Equisetum"
species = "E. giganteum"
binomial = "Equisetum giganteum"
binomial_authority = L.

"Equisetum giganteum" is a species of horsetail native to South America and Central America, from central Chile east to Brazil and north to southern Mexico.

It is one of the largest horsetails, growing 2-5 m tall, exceeded only by the closely allied "E. myriochaetum" (which can achieve stem heights of 8 m, although such plants rely on surrounding herbage for support). The stems are the stoutest of any horsetail, 1-2 cm diameter (up to 3.5 cm diameter in some populations), and bear numerous whorls of very slender branches; these branches are not further branched, but some terminate in spore cones. Unlike some other horsetails, it does not have separate photosynthetic sterile and non-photosynthetic spore-bearing stems.

Populations from northern Chile with very stout stems up to 3.5 cm diameter have sometimes been treated as a separate species "E. xylochaetum", but this is not widely regarded as distinct.

Uses

It is a popular ornamental plant in hot regions with a humid climate.

References and external links

* [http://www.fiu.edu/~chusb001/giant_equisetum.html Giant Horsetails]
* Lorenzi, H. & Souza, M. S. (2001). "Plantas Ornamentais no Brasil: arbustivas, herbáceas e trepadeiras." [http://www.plantarum.com.br/ Online] ISBN 85-86714-12-7