Question

Which one of the following is called horsetail?
A)Lycopodium
B)Marsilea
C)Equisetum
D)Selaginella

Answer 1

Hint: It is a spreading reed-like perennial herb, the stems are cylindrical and evergreen. Stems are usually branched and have rough longitudinal ridges. Their leaves are tiny and they are joined together around a stem forming a black-green band. They are also known as common scouring rush.

Complete answer:
Equisetum belongs to the genus of ferns. They are commonly known as horsetails. Equisetum (Eauisetopsida) is a unique plant from the class of ferns.
-Their growth is distinct and has spores. Spores have the ability to travel along the ground. They are mostly found in wet environments.
-The stems, leaves, and roots of the Equisetum plant are unique which makes this a very interesting group of the plant. Their growth form is different from all other ferns.
-Stems are generally straight, have erect stalks or creep along the ground. These stems are reinforced with silica which makes a stem strong and hard.
-the multiple leaves grow from the same point in an Equisetum plant. Their branches also grow in the same manner.
-Roots grow deep below the surface of the grounds. Some species also have strobili that produce the plant's spores for reproduction.

Additional Information: Lycopodium - also known as ground pines belongs to the family Lycopodiaceae. It is a genus of club mosses.
Marsilea - it has a creeping rhizomatous stem on or just below the soil surface. They are generally aquatic or amphibious in nature found embedded in mud or damp soil.
Selaginella - it is commonly known as a spike moss or small club moss. It is a living genus of the order Selaginellales.
So, the correct answer is,” Equisetum”.

Note: -Because of the branched species, Equisetum is known as horsetail because they resembled a tail of a horse.
-It belongs to the family of a vascular plant mostly produced by spores rather than seeds.