Equisetum ramosissimum subsp. debile (Roxb. ex Vaucher) Hauke, Equisetaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Equisetum debile Roxb. ex Vaucher

Common name(s): [more details]

English: branched scouringrush

Habit:  fern

Description:  "A fern ally with many hollow, fluted aerial stems growing from a perennial rootstock.  Stems evergreen, with stomata arranged in lines.  Leaves minute, whorled to form toothed cylindrical or dilated sheaths; as the sheaths mature, the teeth break off to leave a truncated margin.  Spores in terminal cones."  (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 37-38).

Habitat/ecology:  "Margins of inundated areas such as rice terraces and bunds, tea plantations and roadsides" (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 37-38).

Propagation:  "By spores and by vegetative growth from rhizomes fragmented during ploughing" (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 37-38).

Native range:  Southeast Asia (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 37-38).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011) Hong Kong
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 9)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

Comments:  "Toxic to livestock. Likely to proliferate with cultivation and be competitive with crops at high densities." (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 37-38).

Additional information:
Weed Management Guide from the Government of Australia. (PDF format).

Additional online information about Equisetum ramosissimum is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Equisetum ramosissimum as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Equisetum ramosissimum may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. 2011. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Waterhouse, B. M./Mitchell, A. A. 1998. Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy: weeds target list. Second edition. Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service, Miscellaneous Publication No. 6/98. 110 pp.

Wu, Te-lin. 2001. Check List of Hong Kong Plants. Hong Kong Herbarium and the South China Institute of Botany. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Bulletin 1 (revised). 384 pp.