The difference between Ephedra sinica and Equisetum arvense

1. Difference between stems

The woody stems of Ephedra are short, some are creeping, and the small branches are straight or slightly curved. There are fine longitudinal grooves on the surface. The length between joints is 2.5 to 5.5 cm, mostly 3 to 4 cm, with a diameter of about 2 mm and a green color.

The stem of horsetail is horizontal or upright, cylindrical, black-brown, up to 1 meter or more in height, 5 to 9 mm in diameter, and about 5 to 8 cm long at the joints, and green in color.

2. Leaf Difference

The leaves of Ephedra are two-lobed, with the leaf sheath accounting for 1/3 or 2/3 of the total length. The lobes are triangular in shape and have very sharp tips.

The leaves of horsetail are reduced to scales, and the base is combined into a tubular sheath, which is about 6 to 10 mm long.

3. Flower Difference

The flowers of Ephedra sinica are borne on the terminals of the side branches, are oval or oblong-oval in shape, and have four pairs of bracts. The flowers are fleshy red when mature, oblong-oval or nearly round, about 8 mm long and 6 mm in diameter.

Horsetail does not flower, but reproduces through spores.