Equisetum arvense - Joint stems of 2 types, sterile and fertile; sterile stems up to 70 cm tall, green branched, hollow, 10-12 ridged sheaths green; fertile (shown here) stems to 30 cm tall, brownish to whitish, unbranched, usually thick and succulent, soon withering. Horsetails do not produce seed. Reproduction is by spores. Ancient Romans ate young fertile horsetails as if they were asparagus, also used it to make tea and as a thickening power. Found in wide variety of soils, in moist meadows, forests, swamps, fens and alpine seepage areas, from low to alpine areas.