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Equisetum pratense Ehrh. Meadow horsetail
Meadow horsetails, like other members of the genus, prefer moist habitats such as woods, thickets, river edges, and meadows, in sunlight or partial shade. Plants: Meadow horsetails have thin light green fragile-looking branches, in symmetric whorls off the main stem, and don't exceed about 2′ (60 cm) in height. Branches tend to be straight, or to droop somewhat, while in other species the branches are ascending. Stems are 1/32-⅛″ (1-4 mm) in diameter, with 8-18 ridges. A cross-section of a sterile stem reveals that up to half the diameter of the stem is hollow, more so than with marsh horsetail. Fertile stems are 8-10″ (20-25 cm) tall, and pale pink or brownish at first, tipped by a cone-like sporangia. After fruiting, though, the fertile stems become green and develop branches, looking like the sterile stems. Sterile stems are 8-24″ (20-60 cm) tall, and very rough. See Equisetum for a comparison chart. Leaves: Tiny, non-photosynthetic leaves called scales are fused to the stem at branch nodes, or sheaths. Sheaths are 1/16-⅛″ (2-6 mm) long, with 8-10 brown, white-edged teeth. Fruits: Fertile stems are tipped by a single blunt-tipped cone-like strobilus, ½-1½″ (1.5-4 cm) long, atop a stalk. Spores are released in April. Edibility: These aren't eaten by people, but caribou, moose, grizzly bears, geese, and sheep consume it. (Horses may consume this, but some species of Equisetum are toxic to horses.)
From Thomé, Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm, Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz., 1885 Online References:
in The Equisetum Species (Horsetails) of the British Isles Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods The Central Yukon Species Inventory Project Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network Discover Life (Equisetum) References:
9/29/2013 · Compass Harbor, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)
5/9/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)
4/30/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)
5/21/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 21 cm)
8/17/2020 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)
5/2/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 15″ (26 × 39 cm)
Equisetum pratense description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 23 Aug 2021.
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8/17/2020 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
5/13/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)
8/2/2009 · Gordon & Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)
About 8 x 5" · 9/4/2010 · Old Rail Trail near Wilkins Farm, Pepperell, Massachusetts
5/13/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)
8/30/2010 · Old RR bed near Wilkins Farm, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 14″ (23 × 35 cm)
5/13/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)
6/20/2021 · Heath, Cathance River Nature Preserve, Highland Green, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)
9/29/2013 · Compass Harbor, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm) Range:
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ID is uncertain 
