Horsetail, also known as field horsetail, and marsh horsetail look very similar at first glance. This resemblance is not without danger, because in contrast to horsetail, horsetail is poisonous. What is the difference between the two horsetail species?

The spores of the poisonous marsh boxweed are rather green

Marsh horsetail is poisonous

All parts of marsh horsetail are poisonous, primarily to grazing animals, but humans can also be seriously poisoned if they eat the herb. So be careful when collecting.

Swamp horsetail contains two toxins, namely equisetin and palustrin.

Horsetail, on the other hand, is non-toxic and can even be eaten.

How do you tell marsh horsetail from horsetail?

  • location
  • sporangia
  • cones
  • sprouts
  • Shedding the side branches

As the name suggests, marsh horsetail grows in swampy locations. You should simply avoid these if you want to pick horsetail. Almost only horsetail grows on fields and meadows.

Horsetail does not form flowers, but reproduces via spores that mature in so-called sporangia. In the field horsetail, the spores drive out of the ground in front of the characteristic green leaves. When these grow, the sprout shoots have disappeared again. If sprout shoots and green shoots appear at the same time, it is swamp horsetail.

Distinguish without a doubt: The length of the side shoots

There's a little trick you can use to tell with reasonable certainty whether you're dealing with non-poisonous horsetail or poisonous marsh horsetail.

Check the distance from one leaf shoot to the next and compare this with the length of the side shoots. If the side shoots are longer than the distance in the main shoot, you are dealing with the edible field horsetail. If they are shorter or the same length, it is the poisonous marsh horsetail. Watch this video to see how to tell the two apart without a doubt:

youtube

Other distinguishing features

In horsetail, the shoot axes are long, while they are short in marsh horsetail. In addition, horsetail has thicker stems. They are wider than three millimeters, while the stems of the marsh horsetail are significantly narrower.

tips

Just like the swamp horsetail, other species of horsetail such as winter horsetail, Japanese horsetail, and pond horsetail are poisonous. These varieties should therefore be kept in the garden with caution.

Category:

Vegetable garden