Equisetum scirpoides — dwarf scouring-rush
![Leaves and nodes: Equisetum scirpoides. ~ By Ben Legler. ~ Copyright © 2024 Ben Legler. ~ mountainmarmot[at]hotmail.com ~ U. of Washington - WTU - Herbarium - biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Equisetaceae/equisetum-scirpoides-ln-blegler.jpg)
![Spore cones: Equisetum scirpoides. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Equisetaceae/equisetum-scirpoides-sc-ahaines-c.jpg)
![Plant form: Equisetum scirpoides. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Equisetaceae/equisetum-scirpoides-ha-ahaines-a.jpg)
![Plant form: Equisetum scirpoides. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Equisetaceae/equisetum-scirpoides-ha-ahaines-b.jpg)
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Facts
Dwarf scouring rush is New England's smallest scouring-rush (Equisetum) species. Its curling, wiry stems form evergreen mats, and its black, pointy cone is distinctive.
Habitat
Forests, shores of rivers or lakes, swamps, wetland margins (edges of wetlands)
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
-
- terrestrial
- wetlands
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Stem form
- the stem curves or zig-zags back and forth
- Branches
- there are no branches off the main stem
- Cone tip shape
- the tip of the spore cone has a small, sharp point
- Sheathes on older stems
- the leaf sheathes persist in older stems
- Sheath color
- the leaf sheath is mainly black
- Stem cross-section
- NA
- Number of stem ridges
- 6
- Stem color
- the aerial stem color is green
- Sheath border color
- the border of the leaf sheath has a wide white edge
- Length of branch section
- NA
-
Leaves
- Leaf length
- 0.75–1.5 mm
- Leaves per node
- 3
- Sheath border color
- the border of the leaf sheath has a wide white edge
- Sheath color
- the leaf sheath is mainly black
- Sheathes on older stems
- the leaf sheathes persist in older stems
-
Place
- Habitat
-
- terrestrial
- wetlands
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- edges of wetlands
- forests
- shores of rivers or lakes
- swamps
-
Spores or spore cones
- Cone length
- 2–5 mm
- Cone tip shape
- the tip of the spore cone has a small, sharp point
- Spore form
- the spores are green and spherical
-
Stem, shoot, branch
- Branch grooves
- NA
- Branches
- there are no branches off the main stem
- How hollow is stem
- 0
- Length of branch section
- NA
- Number of stem ridges
- 6
- Plant height
- 25–280 mm
- Stem cavities
- 3
- Stem color
- the aerial stem color is green
- Stem cross-section
- NA
- Stem differences
- the vegetative and reproductive stems are similar in appearance
- Stem form
- the stem curves or zig-zags back and forth
- Stem texture
- the stem feels smooth or slightly rough
- Stem thickness
- 0.5–1 mm
Wetland status
Occurs in wetlands or non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FAC)
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- absent
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Connecticut
- extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
- Massachusetts
- uncommon (S-rank: S3), special concern (code: SC)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
6. Equisetum scirpoides Michx. N
dwarf scouring-rush. Hippochaete scirpoides (Michx.) Farw. • CT, MA, ME, NH, VT; lacking in southeastern New England and extreme southern New England. Forests and swamps, often growing in cool microclimates and/or among bryophytes.
Native to North America?
Yes
Synonyms
- Hippochaete scirpoides (Michx.) Farw.