Equisetum debile

Equisetum debile is a species of plant in the family Equisetaceae found in parts of temperate Asia. It is also treated as a subspecies of Equisetum ramosissimum under the name E. ramosissimum subsp. debile.

Equisetum debile
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Division:
Pteridophyta
Class:
Equisetopsida
Order:
Equisetales
Family:
Equisetaceae
Genus:
Equisetum
Species:
Equisetum ramosissimum
Subspecies:
E. debile
Binomial name
Equisetum debile
Roxb. ex Vaucher

It is locally known as Nepali: सिमे झार, romanized: Sime jhar and योफूली translit. Yophuli in Nepal.[1]

Description

Equisetum debile is a spore-bearing herb with erect, cylindrical, hollow and stem. Branches are long, slender, two or three in whorl, ribbed, nodes encircled by a tight sheath of connate scale like leaves. It has oblong strobilus at the end of branches.[1]

Phenology and reproduction

Equisetum debile vegetatively propagates by the splitting of rhizome. Spore formation occurs in June to July.[1] After dispersal, spores germinate within a few days at humid condition. Gametophytes reproduce protogynous reproduction i.e., formation of female gamete before male one.[2]

Ecology and distribution

Equisetum debile is distributed in South East Asia, Southern China, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. In Nepal, it is found in moist places of the country at 2600 m.[1]

Uses

Equisetum debile is used in traditional medicine in Nepal. It is applied to treat burns, scabies, malarial fever, gonorrhea, dislocated bones, and liver and chest complaints.[1] There is insufficient scientific evidence for the effectiveness of Equisetum plants as a medicine to treat any human condition.[3][4][5]

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References
  1. Manandhar, Narayan P. (2002). Plants and People of Nepal. Portland, Oregon, USA: Timber Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-0881925272.
  2. Kumar, Punam. "Pteridophytes structure and reproduction". www.peoi.org. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  3. "Horsetail". Drugs.com. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  4. Dragos, D; Gilca, M; Gaman, L; Vlad, A; Iosif, L; Stoian, I; Lupescu, O (2017). "Phytomedicine in Joint Disorders". Nutrients. 9 (1): 70. doi:10.3390/nu9010070. PMC 5295114. PMID 28275210.
  5. "Scientific opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to Equisetum arvense L. and invigoration of the body (ID 2437), maintenance of skin (ID 2438), maintenance of hair (ID 2438), maintenance of bone (ID 2439), and maintenance or achievement of a normal body weight (ID 2783) pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006". EFSA Journal. European Food Safety Authority. 7 (10): 1289. 2009. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1289.
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