4 thoughts on “Can anyone id this fern which we have passed on our walk?”
Hi Gill,
I’ve always known it as Mare’s Tail – the irony being that it is poisonous for horses! Kate Thorogood will be able to provide the definitive answer.
Faye x
Yeppers,
Faye is correct – Mare’s Tail is not a fern (I dunno the actual genus etc, plants not my thing) but I do know that it’s a fairly primitive (ie ancient) lineage, probably arising pre-Carboniferous
gfreedmanblog 
Hi Gill,
I’ve always known it as Mare’s Tail – the irony being that it is poisonous for horses! Kate Thorogood will be able to provide the definitive answer.
Faye x
Yeppers,
Faye is correct – Mare’s Tail is not a fern (I dunno the actual genus etc, plants not my thing) but I do know that it’s a fairly primitive (ie ancient) lineage, probably arising pre-Carboniferous
It is common horsetail. One of the oldest surviving plants on the planet! Does not flower and worth Googling for more info!
Horsetail fern I think. S Sh X
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