Equisetum Fluviatile

The Holpijp (Equisetum fluviatile) is a perennial plant belonging to the horsetail family (Equisetaceae). It is a plant that lives to shallow, moderately rich in nutrients, fresh water in ditches, marshes and swamp forests. The plant occurs naturally in the northern hemisphere.

The plant is 30-100 cm tall and has a bright green to brown, smooth, hollow, unbranched stem. Later, the stalks are branched at the top. The central cavity is large and covers three-quarters to nine-tenths of the diameter of the stem. The 4-8 mm thick stems are fourteen to thirty whitish stripes. To the 1.2 inch long, green to brown stengelscheden have fifteen to thirty small triangular teeth. The blackish teeth have a green base. The Holpijp reproduces primarily by vegetative rhizomes.

From May to July appear fertile stems with spores from 1.5 to 2.5 cm long spikes on top. The ear has a round top and consists sporangioforen. At the bottom of the shield-shaped sporangiofoor are three p.m. to eight p.m. trawl sporangiën.

The plant spreads via spores that grow into a germ or prothallium before fertilization can take place. The tracks have two small jump wires (elateren), in the dry state to the tracks are wrapped when they get wet they stretch, and push the spores out of the ear.



Source: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holpijp_%28plant%29


See also: Sending Flowers, Online Florist