Typically referred to as simply
Equisetum hyemale L. but plants in North America are considered to belong to a separate subspecies from those in Europe, and are treated as
Equisetum hyemale L. subsp.
affine (Engelm.) Calder & Taylor. Even within the "affine" group, morphological differences have been observed in plants in southern and central/western areas of North America compared to plants in the "far west" which have led in the past to other published names, but which currently are included within this complex (
Equisetum robustum var.
affine and
E . hyemale var. californicum are examples).Note the pointed (apiculate) cones and the gray-ash as well as the adjoining narrower black bands on the robust stems. Our tallest Horsetail. Known also as Common scouringrush. Pioneers perhaps confused it as looking rush-like and the plants were used to clean/scour pots and pans and such because of its silica content. "Scouringrush" (or with a space or a hyphen) is in fact commonly used with at least three other species of
Equisetum. See FNA's use of the same common name at
www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=2.... For more clarifying use on the common name as used in the United States, see
www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/scouring_rush....
Equisetum hyemale subsp.
hyemale occurs in Europe/Asia/China and it not the same taxa, at least a presently understood.This portion of the creek did not exist until relatively recently when it was diverted and these plants have managed to take advantage of this new habitat within the past two years.Sept. 14, 2012, Salt Lake County, Utah, along Big Cottonwood Creek at approx. 4,380 ft. elev.
