Equisetophyta

1. Equisetophyta
(Horsetails)
Damnjanović Ivana

3. Characteristics
Xylem and phloem present
• internal conducting tissues for water
and food
Spores, but no seeds

4. Structure and Form
Branched and unbranched forms, usually less
than 1.3 meters tall
Stems jointed and ribbed.
Scalelike leaves in whorls at nodes.

8. Reproduction
Asexual by fragmentation of rhizomes
Sexual reproduction:
Strobili at tips of stems with sporangia
Spores green with 4 ribbon-like elaters attached.

11. Equisetum
arvense

12. Ancient relatives of horsetails:
Flourished in Carboniferous, 300
million years ago.
Human and ecological
relevance:
Many giant horsetails used for food
by humans and other animals.
Scouring rush stems used for
scouring and sharpening.
Reconstruction of fossil
giant horsetail,
Calamites