Equisetum bogotense

Equisetum bogotense, the Andean horsetail , is a herbaceous perennial that reproduces through spores. It has thicker less bushy whorled branches, and a silica rich rhizomatous stem, which roots grow out of, under ground. This stem is a dull dark brown color with glabrous growth aside from the sheathed segments. The plant has a history as a traditional herbal remedy, and a study of its diuretic effects on humans showed significant increases in urinary sodium, potassium, and chloride. Human and animal trials of indicate that E. bogotense has "high" efficacy as a diuretic.[1] It is used in several modern herbal supplements.[2] The species epithet refers to Bogotá, the capital of Colombia.

Andean horsetail
Andean horsetail
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Class: Polypodiopsida
Subclass: Equisetidae
Order: Equisetales
Family: Equisetaceae
Genus: Equisetum
Subgenus: E. subg. Equisetum
Species:
E. bogotense
Binomial name
Equisetum bogotense

A segregate species, Equisetum rinihuense, has been described.

According to a recent study,[3] this species may be the most isolated of all the genus, being more closely related with fossil Equisetums rather than living ones .

References
  1. Wright, CI; Van-Buren, L; Kroner, CI; Koning, MM (October 2007). "Herbal medicines as diuretics: a review of the scientific evidence". J Ethnopharmacol. 114 (1): 1–31. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2007.07.023. PMID 17804183.
  2. https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/00/Jul00/072000/rpt0071.pdf
  3. Elgorriaga, A.; Escapa, I.H.; Rothwell, G.W.; Tomescu, A.M.F.; Cúneo, N.R. (2018). "Origin of Equisetum: Evolution of horsetails (Equisetales) within the major euphyllophyte clade Sphenopsida". American Journal of Botany. 105 (8): 1286–1303. doi:10.1002/ajb2.1125. PMID 30025163.


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