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Sphenophyta - 2

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Habitat - They are confined to semi-aquatic to aquatic environments. They can be found in still waters or along surging mountain streams where little else can remain attached.

They can grow IN & Next to Raging mountain streams.

They are relatively small plants.

Fossil Sphenophytes reached a height of 20 meters.

EquScripMod.jpg (28176 bytes)E. scirrpoides which I have seen in the Rocky Mountains reaches a height of 4 - 5 cm. & has a diameter of 0.5 cm.

E. giganteum reaches a height of 8 m. and has a diameter of 2 cm.

Silicon is a major part of the Cell Wall and Equisetum actively accumulates Si. It also accumulates heavy metals like Copper, Gold & Silver. It has been used as an indicator plant for heavy metal contamination & for prospecting. Gold can accumulate (4.5 oz/ton). That is a truckload of Equisetum!!!!

It could be very interesting to compare Si. deposition in Equisetum & Diatoms to see if there are similarities. This does not suggest that Diatoms are directly related to Equisetum.

Note the terminal Strobili or Cones in the adjacent photos.

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Equisetum growing next to raging stream in Montana

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Equisetum in Subalpine Lake  Montana

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Closer views of the Above: These plants approached a meter in  height.

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Stem Tips from the plants above: Note the Terminal Cones

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