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common mare's-tail

Scientific Name: Hippuris vulgaris

Family: Hippuridaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names: IN (common mare's-tail), ME (common mare's-tail),

       

Common Mare's-tail (Hippuris vulgaris)

Hippuris vulgaris, commonly known as mare's-tail or common mare's-tail, is an aquatic plant found in various regions.

Considerations for Pets

  • The text mentions that mare's tail (likely referring to *Equisetum*) is poisonous to horses. While this refers to *Equisetum* and not *Hippuris vulgaris*, it indicates potential risks associated with similar-looking plants.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Hippuris vulgaris
  • Common Names: Mare's-tail, Common Mare's-tail, Bottlebrush, Cat tail, Joint weed, Paddock piper, Witch's milk
  • Family: Plantaginaceae (formerly Hippuridaceae or Mare's-tail Family)
  • Order: Callitrichales (Water-starworts / Mare's-tails)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to Eurasia and North America.
  • Found from Greenland to the Tibetan region.
  • Common throughout the UK.
  • An emergent/amphibious plant that favors wetland and aquatic environments.

Ecological Role

  • The text notes that Horsetail (*Equisetum arvense*), commonly mistaken as mare's-tail, is an invasive, deep-rooted weed with fast-growing rhizomes. This could suggest that *Hippuris vulgaris*, though a distinct species, shares similar invasive tendencies in some environments.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • A perennial plant growing to a height of 0.5 meters (approximately 1ft 8in).
  • Flowers bloom from June to July.
  • Terminal subshoots are a common variant.
  • Looks like a robust green bottlebrush.
  • Has pine tree/pipe cleaner shaped stalks.

Cultivation

  • Grows best in full sun or partial shade.
  • Prefers wet soil.
  • Planting depth: Up to 60cm.
  • Height: 20cm.
  • Flowers: June - August.
  • Growth Rate: Slow.

Quirky Facts

  • Culpepper, in common with the older herbalists, considered it of great value as a vulnerary.

Further Information

  • Weyand, Phyllis. Hippuris vulgaris.