field horsetail
Equisetaceae

field horsetail

Equisetum calderi B. Boivin

Indigenous Names: pȟeží swúla, CeniiO-is-e’ (Meaning: “It Goes Inside”), Heheva?xestse, Mo in a am es se e ohk, Mo’ ehno’ hamemoxesene, Nestoe-hestoto tse, Tu-ko-wuts To-tsi-wuts
Habitat: Moist to dry, wooded to open sites, often on disturbed ground; plains to alpine; Alaska to New Mexico
Seasonality: Not given 149; Fall; Harvested in spring; Harvested in the fall; Not given
Status: Native

Medicinal Documentation

Cheyenne

Infusion of leaves and stems given to horses with a hard cough Additional commentary: Horse medicine is prepared as an infusion of the stems and leaves that is poured down the horse’s throat when s/he has a hard cough.271 This other species of horsetail (Equisetum hyemale L. or Nestoe-hestoto tse) was also employed as a horse medicine.272

Cheyenne

An infusion is given to strengthen the kidneys

Cheyenne

An infusion used as a soothing diuretic

Cheyenne

Was administered as a tea to assist in mending bones

Cheyenne

The plant is now mixed with lard or oil and placed in the sun for several weeks to make a rub for arthritis

Cheyenne

A tea is made and given to stop bowel hemorrhage

Ceremonial & Cultural Notes

Arapaho

Commentary: The name refers to the fact that one joint of the plant goes inside the next one. The Arapaho English term for the plant is “joint grass.”81

Ute

No use recorded in the source

Botanical Reference

Parts Documented: Not specified in the literature, leaves, plant, stems

Distribution: Moist to dry, wooded to open sites, often on disturbed ground; plains to alpine; Alaska to New Mexico