Equisetum is the sole surviving genus of a class of primitive vascular plants dating back to the mid-Devonian period (350+ million years ago). Today, Equisetums are categorized as fern allies largely because, like ferns, they are seedless, non-flowering plants that reproduce by spores. Equisetum hyemale is native to Eurasia and North America. One common name is "Scouring Rush," because its stems are rich in silica and used for scrubbing dishes. In Mexico, this plant is grown for furniture polishing purposes. In the floriculture industry, it is now widely grown as a potted ornamental and garden plant. This plant is also used medicinally and has environmental uses in phytoremediation.

It prefers moist soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5, in direct sunlight or partial shade. It can tolerate temperatures down to around -30°C.

• The roots are branched, the rhizomes creeping, and small tubers are sometimes produced along the rhizomes.

• Small, grayish leaves (with toothed margins) completely surround and clasp the stem at the nodes, forming a sheath-like structure. Thin black bands appear just above and below the leaves.

• The rounded, thin stems have a grooved surface and a circumpolar, sphenopsid cavity that covers at least two-thirds of their diameter. The stems are above the water surface, monomorphic, green, and grow to a height of over 1 m. The stem diameter is between 0.5 and 1 cm. The base of the stem is unbranched but has lateral branches with internodes 5-8 cm long. The stems generally have 16-22 serrations, depending on the stem diameter. The stem is green with two black bands at the joints.

• The spore-bearing cones are nipple-like. Equisetum spores can germinate rapidly under suitable conditions with high humidity.

• Propagation can be achieved by spores and rhizome division.

• Spores are best collected as soon as they are ripe and immediately sprinkled on the surface of sterile compost. Keep the soil moist and transplant the plant into a pot as soon as it is large enough. Propagation by spores is quite difficult.

• By rhizome division, the plant usually spreads very freely when properly planted, making it easy to propagate by dividing it from the parent plant.

• It treats edema, kidney and bladder problems, stops bleeding wounds and promotes healing, fights various infectious and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, conjunctivitis, pyelonephritis, and treats tuberculosis, jaundice, prostatitis, and hypertension. It is anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, hemostatic, hypotensive, and styptic.

• Flavonoid, polifenol, alkaloid, silika, etil palmitat, kaempferol, glikosida, dan komposisi fenol lainnya.