horsetail

/ˌhɔrsˈteɪl/
IPA guide

Other forms: horsetails

Definitions of horsetail
  1. noun
    perennial rushlike flowerless herbs with jointed hollow stems and narrow toothlike leaves that spread by creeping rhizomes; tend to become weedy; common in northern hemisphere; some in Africa and South America
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    Equisetum arvense, common horsetail, field horsetail
    of Eurasia and Greenland and North America
    Equisetum fluviatile, swamp horsetail, water horsetail
    Eurasia; northern North America to Virginia
    Equisetum hyemale, Equisetum hyemale robustum, Equisetum robustum, rough horsetail, scouring rush
    evergreen erect horsetail with rough-edged stems; formerly used for scouring utensils
    Equisetum palustre, marsh horsetail
    scouring-rush horsetail widely distributed in wet or boggy areas of northern hemisphere
    Equisetum Sylvaticum, wood horsetail
    Eurasia except southern Russia; northern North America
    Equisetum variegatum, variegated horsetail, variegated scouring rush
    northern North America; Greenland; northern and central Europe
    type of:
    fern ally
    pteridophytes of other classes than Filicopsida
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