A primitive vascular plant with jointed, hollow stems and whorls of scale-like leaves, reproducing by spores produced in cone-like structures. Horsetails are living fossils, the sole survivors of an ancient group that dominated Carboniferous swamps.
Named for the resemblance of the branched, segmented stems to a horse's tail, from Old English. The scientific name Equisetum comes from Latin 'equus' (horse) and 'seta' (bristle), reflecting the same visual similarity.
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