Field horsetail, also known as horsetail, is the gardener's terror because it spreads through gardens and can hardly be eliminated. But the plant is not poisonous. However, horsetail is often confused with marsh horsetail, which is particularly poisonous to animals.
Is field horsetail poisonous?
Field horsetail, also known as horsetail, is not poisonous to humans and can be used in medicine and personal care. However, it is often confused with the poisonous swamp horsetail, which poses a particular danger to animals.
Field horsetail is often confused with marsh horsetail
Both types of horsetail look very similar. That's why you should be careful when dealing with horsetail. In contrast to field horsetail, swamp horsetail is poisonous and poses a real danger, especially to animals.
There are some distinguishing features that you can use to tell whether it is marsh horsetail or field horsetail (horsetail):
- Color of sprouts
- Cones on the top
- Number of tips on the leaf sheaths
- Stem width
- Width and color of the ears
Field horsetail has brown sprouts on which the spores grow. Green horsetail with cones is the poisonous swamp horsetail. The stems of field horsetail are wider than three millimeters, while swamp horsetail bears narrower spikes that bear lateral branches and are greenish in color.
Field horsetail can be used in many different ways
Since field horsetail is not poisonous, it can be used both in medicine and for personal care. Leaves and stems can even be cooked.
You can harvest the root tubers of the field horsetail from September to March and eat them raw or cooked.
However, if you are not entirely sure whether you are dealing with non-poisonous field horsetail or poisonous swamp horsetail, it is better to leave it alone.
Tip
Field horsetail is one of the most robust plants that comes from this country. Even in areas that are s alty or treated with weed killer, horsetail grows without any problems.
