Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Hippochaete hyemalis

Equisetaceae are the sole survivors of a line of plants going back three hundred million years; members of this family gave rise to many of our coal deposits. Equisetaceae are widespread through the United States and in the semi-deserts, foothills, and mountains of the Four Corners they are commonly seen near streams and in damp forests and meadows.

The genus name, which means "horsetails", was given by Linnaeus in 1753.

Synonym: Hippochaete hyemalis. Equisetum hyemale. (Scouring Rush)
Equisetaceae (Horsetail Family)

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Streamsides, wetlands. Spring.
Lower Scotch Creek Road, June 25, 2000.

This streamside and wetlands loving Equisetaceae has a light and then dark band at each stem joint and the spore producing flower cone is pointed at the tip.

The high abrasive silica content of the plant makes it useful for scrubbing pots and gave rise to the "Scouring Rush" common name. Backcountry folk use it for cleaning pots. "Horsetails", the second very common name for Hippochaete hyemalis, is derived from the Greek words "Hipp" ("horse") and "chaete" ( "long flowing hair or mane"). "Hyemalis" is Latin for "winter".

Synonym: Hippochaete hyemalis. Equisetum hyemale. (Scouring Rush)
Equisetaceae (Horsetail Family)

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Streamsides, wetlands. Spring.
Calf Creek Falls Trail, Escalante/Grand Staircase National Monument, Utah, October, 23, 2007.

Members of Equisetaceae often occur in dense stands in moist areas.