Equisetaceae (Horsetail Family)

White-Inyo mountain species have annual stems, erect, jointed, hollow. Leaves are reduced to minute scales united to form a sheath at the nodes. Branches, if present, alternate with the scales at the base of the sheath. A conelike, spore-bearing body, 1/2–1 1/4 in long, tops each fertile stem. Stems are minutely ridged and somewhat rough to the touch.

Equisetum arvenseL. Common Horsetail. Stems are in two forms. Sterile stems are green with whorls of long branches; fertile ones are whitish or brown, unbranched, and soon wither. The sheath is greenish, 3/16–3/8 in (5–10 mm) long, with teeth 1–3 mm long; cone 3/16–1 3/8 in (0.5–3.5 cm) long, long-stemmed.

Distribution. Wet places; Desert Scrub and Pinyon-juniper Woodland, 5,000–8,300 ft (1,524–2,530 m).

Equisetum laevigatumA. Bráun. Scouring Rush. Stems all about alike, simple or some few-branched, 6–40 in (1.5–10 dm) tall and up to 5/16 in (8 mm) thick. Sheaths are generally 5/16–5/8 in (7–15 mm) long, mainly green, with a black band at apex only. Cone is 5/8–1 in (1–2.5 cm) long, short-stemmed.

Distribution. Wet places; Desert Scrub and Pinyon-juniper Woodland, 4,000–9,200 ft (1,220–2,805 m).