Equisetum praealtum Raf.

Tall Scouring Rush; Common Scouring Rush

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Tall Scouring Rush is a perennial seedless vascular plant in the Horsetail family (Equisetaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama in suitable habitat. Tall Scouring Rush grows on river and stream banks, near springs, and around caves. It is almost always found in areas with limestone. Tall Scouring Rush has jointed, upright, hollow stems with ridges. It produces creeping rhizomes under the soil surface. The stems are green and the leaves are reduced to small black triangular structures at the joints. Tall Scouring Rush is a seedless vascular plant—it reproduces by forming spores in a cone shaped structure known as a strobilus. The strobilus is located at the apex of the stem. Tall Scouring Rush stems contain silica dioxide and are very rough. They have been used to clean pots and pans and to polish metal. Tall Scouring Rush is sometimes available from nurseries. It can be grown as an emergent aquatic in a shallow pool, as a specimen plant in a pot, or as a low screen along paths. It can be aggressive, so it is best to leave it in a pot to contain the rhizomes and not to plant directly it into the soil.

Though morphologically distinct, this taxon has long since been treated as a variety or subspecies of the European Equisetum hyemale L. Using molecular phylogenetic data, Christenhusz et al (2019) demonstrated it distinct from the European material thus requiring it to be raised to species status. The Rafinesque name seems to be the oldest name available at the species level.--B. Keener

Native

Christenhusz, M.J.M., L. Bangiolo, M.W. Chase, M.F. Fay, C. Husby, M. Witkus, and J. Viruel. 2019. Phylogenetics, classification and typification of extant horsetails (Equisetum, Equisetaceae). Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 189: 311-352.