New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (mid-way - by the side of the ditch). To tell horsetails apart you need to look at the main stem sheaths and also the fertile growths - see later images. The little white bits are that the leaves have spreading and acutely tapering teeth.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(01/05/2021) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (mid-way - by the side of the ditch). To tell horsetails apart you need to look at the main stem sheaths and also the fertile growths - see later images. The little white bits are that the leaves have spreading and acutely tapering teeth.

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (mid-way - by the side of the ditch). They are descended from the giant trees that existed in the Paleozoic era (600-372 million years ago) and the product of the Carboniferous period (270 million years ago).

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(01/05/2021) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (mid-way - by the side of the ditch). They are descended from the giant trees that existed in the Paleozoic era (600-372 million years ago) and the product of the Carboniferous period (270 million years ago).

Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). The sheaths are distinctive for Field Horsetail although this is a young one before it "greens-up" which will happen when the leaves start being produced beneath this sheath.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(02/05/2022) Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). The sheaths are distinctive for Field Horsetail although this is a young one before it "greens-up" which will happen when the leaves start being produced beneath this sheath.

Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). Young leaves developing beneath each sheath stem and sheath becoming greener.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(02/05/2022) Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). Young leaves developing beneath each sheath stem and sheath becoming greener.

Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). This is one that is now starting to grow leaves - the bits sticking out beneath the sheath.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(02/05/2022) Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). This is one that is now starting to grow leaves - the bits sticking out beneath the sheath.

Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). The leaves have spreading and acutely tapering teeth at each node, as here.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(02/05/2022) Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). The leaves have spreading and acutely tapering teeth at each node, as here.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(17/07/2022) Footpath rear of water treatment plant, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex.

Footpath rear of water treatment plant, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. The sheath and stem green-up as the plant matures.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(17/07/2022) Footpath rear of water treatment plant, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. The sheath and stem green-up as the plant matures.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(16/04/2022) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (mid-way - by the side of the ditch). A baby plant.

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (mid-way - by the side of the ditch). Baby plant - they look like mini Christmas trees!

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(01/05/2021) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (mid-way - by the side of the ditch). Baby plant - they look like mini Christmas trees!

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (mid-way - by the side of the ditch). Branches growing bigger. A more mature plant - Wood Horsetail instead has branches that are themselves branched and droop downwards, unlike this Field Horsetail.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(16/06/2021) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (mid-way - by the side of the ditch). Branches growing bigger. A more mature plant - Wood Horsetail instead has branches that are themselves branched and droop downwards, unlike this Field Horsetail.

New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (mid-way - by the side of the ditch). Marsh Horsetail has fatter and fewer branches and they've a rounded tip.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(16/06/2021) New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (mid-way - by the side of the ditch). Marsh Horsetail has fatter and fewer branches and they've a rounded tip.

Footpath rear of water treatment plant, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Definitely Field Horsetail as unbranched and in particular the sheaths are correct for Field Horsetail.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(17/07/2022) Footpath rear of water treatment plant, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Definitely Field Horsetail as unbranched and in particular the sheaths are correct for Field Horsetail.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(17/07/2022) Footpath rear of water treatment plant, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(02/05/2022) Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). This is what a very young developing fertile growth looks like, before it opens out to reveal the spore sacs.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(02/05/2022) Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). This is a young fertile growth. The white bits ar the spore sacs, they look like teeth and are sometimes termed that!

Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). Fertile growth. For ages I thought these were some kind of fungii!

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(02/05/2022) Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). Fertile growth. For ages I thought these were some kind of fungii!

Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). Great Horsetail is a bit similar but that has teeth that are directed inwards so look less obvious.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(02/05/2022) Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). Great Horsetail is a bit similar but that has teeth that are directed inwards so look less obvious.

Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). The greeny residue on top of the discs is ithe myriad of spores..

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)(02/05/2022) Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (along path that goes along the stream back into the reserve from the field at the back). The greeny residue on top of the discs is ithe myriad of spores..