___________________________________________________________________________________
Equisetum fluviatile
L.
[Equisetum limosum L.] Water
Horsetail
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Light 8. Wetness 10. pH 6. Fertility 4.
Essex status: Native.
An aquatic species of moderately
acid ,shallow, still waters or wet mud close to water, in lakes,
ponds, ditches and bogs in well-lit open habitats. Easily
identified by its pencil-like smooth, shiny, hollow, paper-thin,
brittle, hardly-branched stems, the central hollow occupying
0.75 to 0.9 of the overall diameter. In exposed sites it has
virtually no whorls of branches but in shady sites it develops
short straight branches, leading to this form being named by
Linnaeus as E. limosum, although genetically it is
identical. Its extensive rhizomes also have a wide hollow and
extend a long way though thick anaerobic mud, rooting at the
nodes, thus channelling oxygen where many other plants are
unable to survive. The aerial branches die down in the winter,
but the rhizomes survive in the mud and regenerate the plant, as
unlike other horsetail species it does not form rhizoidal
tubers. The barrel shaped strobili are formed at the apex of
slightly shorter than normal aerial stems. It is widespread
throughout Britain, particularly where there are deep silty muds
in still waters shallower than 1.5m. They can be very acid with
a low mineral status, but it does best in calcareous silts, when
it often forms reedbed-like colonies.Very thinly scattered in
Essex in gravel workings, lakes, peaty bogs, flood plain marshes
and a farm reservoir. One of our biggest colonies was in
Goldings Hill Pond North (Epping Forest) until it was completely
eliminated when the pond was dredged in 2000. Monads
49.
Equisetum x litorale
Kühlew.
Ex Rupr. [E.
arvense x E. fluviatile]
Shore
Horsetail
Native. Intermediate. Bright
green stems to 1m, central hollow about half the diameter, dense whorls
of branches in middle of stem, strobili abortive.
One record: TQ350,879 & 353,877.
Walthamstow marshes, by ditches, north and south marsh. 1980. Brian
Wurzell.
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TQ(51)49 |
408,982 |
18 |
Epping
Forest, Rat’s Lane Bog. 1976; abundant along stream, west of the
bog. 1979. K J Adams [now extinct] |
|
418,985 |
18 |
Epping
Forest, Lesser Wake Valley West 1973. K J Adams. [now extinct] |
|
418,985 |
18 |
Epping
Forest, Lesser Wake Valley V2 Crater Pond. 1973;
and 1984; K J Adams |
|
420,978 |
18
|
Epping
Forest, Wake Valley Pond, inlet stream. 1973 & 2004. K J Adams |
|
425,975 |
18 |
Epping
Forest, Baldwins Hill Pond. 1974; in NE corner by the delta.September 1988. K J Adams. |
|
429,980 |
18 |
Epping
Forest, Goldings Hill Upper Pond, 1951,
1958; Ronald M Payne. Abundant
across at least half of pond,1968, 1971, 1974; K.J.Adams; 1995,
Amanda Samuels [exterminated
when pond dredged in 2000/2001.] Only a handful of stems 2004.
K. J. Adams. Not seen since. |
|
428,979 |
18 |
Epping
Forest, Goldings Hill Lower Pond, 1958, Ronald M Payne. 1974 K.J.Adams
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427,991 |
18 |
Epping
Forest, Dulsmead Hollow Bog, with
E. palustre.
1951,1970,1971.Ronald M Payne. Still there 1986. K J Adams. |
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Epping
Forest, Dulsmead, Hollow, right-hand branch of stream bog only,
no sign of E. palustre. 21 October 1979. K J.Adams. |
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436,995/6 |
18 |
Epping
Forest, Oak Hill Bog, with E. palustre. July 1976. K J Adams. |
|
431,999 |
18 |
Epping Forrest, Lodge Road
Bog South. 21 May 2006. K J Adams. |
TL(52)40 |
431,000 |
19 |
Epping
Forest, Lodge Road Bog North. 1953, 2008,
2011, 2014. Large colony near outlet. K J Adams. |
|
4410,0060 |
19 |
Epping
Forest, Pestle Pit Pond. 1976; western end. 1969; and 1980;
K J Adams; 1993, Amanda Samuels. |
|
4412,0085 |
19 |
Epping Forest, Pestle Pit Pond.
Ken Adams et Epping WFG. Large colony. 10 September 2013. |
TL(52)41 |
48,17 |
19 |
Little
Hallingbury flood pound. 18 July 1999. Charles & Shirley Watson |
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49,16 |
19 |
Sawbridgeworth Marsh, date? John L Fielding. |
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492,173 |
19 |
Little
Hallingbury Marsh, 1984. Charles & Shirley Watson |
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493,184 |
19
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Little
Hallingbury, willow plantation east of R. Stort. 1984. Charles &
Shirley Watson |
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49,17 |
19 |
Little
Hallingbury, R. Stort and marsh south of Spellbrook Lock. 1980.
Charles & Shirley Watson. |
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48,18 |
19 |
Little
Hallingbury, Thorley Flood Pound. 1983. Charles & Shirley Watson |
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490,180 |
19 |
Little Hallingbury, small
colony in marsh between R. Stort and Wallbury Fort. 6 May
1991. Tim Pyner. |
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497,196 |
19 |
Great
Hallingbury, Rushey Mead N.R. 1990. Charles & Shirley Watson |
TL(52)43 |
45,39 |
19 |
Chrishall,
July 1996. John L. Fielding & Shirley Watson. |
TQ(51)59 |
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18 |
South
Weald Park. Essex Flora 1974. |
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561,962 |
18 |
Coxtie
Green, Mores Wood, edge of small pond, July 1960; no sign 2011. K J Adams. |
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5500,9275 |
18 |
Dagnam
Park, in pond with Butamus umbellatus and Ricciocarpos
natans. 24 June 1979. K J Adams et Havering Group. |
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56,97 |
18 |
Alder Shaw.
2009. EECOS. |
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57,99 |
18 |
Brentwood,
Pole's Wood. 2009. EECOS. |
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58-9?,90 |
18 |
Brentwood,
The Wobbings.2009. EECOS. |
TL(52)50 |
55,01 |
18 |
High
Ongar, Marden Ash, flooded gravel pit by Langford Bridge. Essex
Flora 1974. |
TL(52)51 |
53,11 |
19 |
Matching
Green, pond. Essex Flora 1974. |
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53,19 |
19 |
Hatfield
Broad Oak, Harfield Forest, 2002. Shirley Watson. |
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5432,1749 |
19 |
Hatfield
Broad Oak, small patch in open water of drainage ditch. 30
August. 2007. Luke Bristow. |
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54,19 |
19 |
Hatfield
Forest lake, 1999. Shirley Watson. |
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540,197 |
19 |
Hatfield
Forest Lake, southern end. 31.Jul.1955. K J Adams. |
TL(52)52 |
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19 |
Hatfield
Forest, lake delta marsh. Essex Flora 1974. |
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52,28 |
19 |
Ugley,
marshy field. Essex Flora 1974. |
TL(52)53 |
527,375 |
19 |
Saffron
Walden, Littlebury, pond in middle of filed. 6 May 2000. Shirley
Watson. |
TQ(51)68 |
62,89 |
18 |
Thorndon
Park South, Mill Wood lake. Essex Flora 1974. |
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6269,8998 |
18 |
Thorndon
Park South, Mill Wood lake, in small quantity edge of lake. 23 June 2010.
Mary Smith et EFC. |
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6268,9000 |
18 |
Thorndon Park
South, northern part. Small patch NE edge of lake. 23 June
2010Ken Adams et EFC, |
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626,900 |
18 |
Thorndon Park South,
Menagerie Plantation, marshy area north of Old Hall Lake. 14
September 1986. Tim Pyner; and Mary Smith et EFC. 24 June 2010. |
TQ(51)69 |
61,90 |
18 |
Childerditch Pond. Essex Flora 1974. |
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61,91 |
18 |
Brentwood,
Thorndon Park. 18 June 1979. Paula Swettenham. |
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18 |
Billericay. Essex Flora 1974. |
TL(52)60 |
653,006 |
18 |
Ingatestone, the Hyde Lake. 20July 1998. Graham Smith |
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651,025
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18 |
Ingatestone, Dawes Farm Reservoir. 19 August 1999.Graham Smith. |
TL(52)61 |
63,11 |
19 |
Good
Easter, Chalybeate Spring. Essex Flora 1974. |
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69,19 |
19 |
Felsted,
marsh by R.Ter. Essex Flora 1974. |
TL(52)62 |
66,20 |
19 |
Felsted,
swamp by sewage works. Essex Flora 1974. |
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60,25 |
19 |
Great
Easton, marsh. Essex Flora 1974. |
TL(52)71 |
75,11 |
19
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Boreham, frequent in old
gravel pits. 10 Novenber 1986. Tim Pyner. |
TL(52)72 |
72,21 |
19 |
Bartholomew Green, pond. Essex Flora 1974. |
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76,26 |
19 |
Braintree,
Bocking Stream, north of Hadley Close, 1988. Jeremy Ison. |
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74,28/9 |
19 |
Beazeley
End, marsh. Essex Flora 1974. |
TL(52)80 |
80,08 |
19 |
Ulting,
marsh, Essex Flora 1974. |
TL(52)81 |
841,129 |
19 |
Wickham
Bishops, Chantry Wood. 30 July 1997. Terri Tarpey |
TL(52)82 |
82,22 |
19 |
Bradwell,
marsh. Essex Flora 1974. |
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898,282 |
19 |
Chappel,
Millenium Green, base of bank & near pond. 5 June 2001.
Colchester Natural History Society. |
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8977,2820
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19 |
Chappel,
extensive stand in wet area. 16 June 2008. Colin Austin. |
TL(52)83 |
81,31/2 |
19 |
Great
Maplestead, marsh. Essex Flora 1974. |
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88,35 |
19 |
1987.
Bill Chisholm |
|
8836 |
19 |
Daws Hall
N.R. 6 June 1982. Colchester Natural History Society. |
TL(52)84 |
82,40 |
19 |
Belchamp
Walter, marsh. Essex Flora 1974. |
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82,40 |
19 |
May 1984.
EWT records |
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83,45+ |
19 |
Foxearth,
old gravel pits. Essex Flora 1974. |
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83,46 |
19 |
Liston
Pits, 14 September 2001. K J Adams & Terri Tarpey. |
TL(52)91 |
94,16 |
19 |
Abberton
Resevoir, 22 May 2008. Joanne Denyer |
TL(52)92 |
98,26 |
19 |
1989. Peter Wilson. 23 August 1983. Jerry Heath &
Terry Tarpey. |
TM(62)01 |
06,18 |
19 |
Brightlingsea Gravel Pits, good
quantity on sludgy mud.1 July 1984. Alan Wake & Ian Rose. |
TM(62)02 |
0020,2967 |
19 |
Colchester,
Severals. Extensive stand in pond. 19 January 2008. Colin
Austinn. |
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06,26 |
19 |
1979 & 29 May 1982. Colchester Natural History
Museum |
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08,20 |
19 |
5 July 1984. Alan Wake |
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09,24 |
19 |
1988. Jean Wort |
TM(62)21 |
20,19 |
19 |
Great Holland Pits N.R. 11 July 1982. Essex Field
Club field trip. |
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