Country diary: All hail the horsetail, a plant that could survive anything
This feature explores the resilience of the field horsetail plant, a prehistoric species known for its durability and invasive nature. The author highlights its unique physical properties and historical uses as a scouring tool.
Why it matters
It provides an educational look at botanical history and the evolutionary success of ancient plant species.
The ‘bank of green fuzz’ by the road – Equisetum arvense . Photograph: Kate Blincoe The ‘bank of green fuzz’ by the road – Equisetum arvense . Photograph: Kate Blincoe Country diary Plants Country diary: All hail the horsetail, a plant that could survive anything Newton Flotman, Norfolk: It looks like a toilet brush yet predates the dinosaurs. I can’t help but give it a stroke by the roadside, even if I get strange looks
Prefer the Guardian on Google T he rural road is flanked with a bank of green fuzz. It’s jungly and verdant – lush in a landscape that has turned brown and yellow from drought. I run my hand over the green bristles erupting from a bamboo-like stem.
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