Horsetails

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Equisetum \Eq`ui*se"tum\, n.; pl. {Equiseta}. [L., the
     horsetail, fr. equus horse + seta a thick,, stiff hair,
     bristle.] (Bot.)
     A genus of vascular, cryptogamic, herbaceous plants; -- also
     called {horsetails}.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     Note: The {Equiseta} have hollow jointed stems and no true
           leaves. The cuticle often contains siliceous granules,
           so that one species ({E. hyemale}) is used for scouring
           and polishing, under the name of {Dutch rush} or
           {scouring rush}.
           [1913 Webster]