New Mexico State University
College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences | ACES
NMSU: Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Horsetail, smooth

Stem showing closeup of dark band

Smooth horsetail is a native cryptogam, a plant that reproduces without flowers or seeds. Horsetail prefers moist and sandy soil. The stems reach heights from 1-6 feet and have one dark band near the tip. The round-tipped cone at the top of the stem is yellow with varying amounts of black.

A grouping of stems with jointed stems and cones clearly visible
A dark cone at the tip of a stem
A community of smooth horsetail displaying its slightly clustered growth habit

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