Sphenophyta

Themes > Science > Botanical Sciences > Classification of Plants > Cryptogamia (Seedless Plants) > Sphenophyta

Sphenophytes, the horsetails, are spore producing vascular plants. They have hollow jointed stems surrounded by whorles of scale-like leaves. In addition, they have true roots, stems and leaves. Horsetails contain "silica," a gritty material that pioneers used to clean their pots and pans with. About a 150 types exist today, mostly small, while their ancestors were more tree-like. Horsetails are found in moist areas around the world.

Sporophyte phase in Equisetum