equisetum
eq.ui.se.tum \.ek-w*-'se-t-*m\ \-'se-t-*\ n or equisetums or eq.ui.se.ta [NL, genus name, fr. L equisaetum horsetail (plant), fr. equus hors] pl e + saeta bristle : any of a genus (Equisetum) of lower tracheophytes comprising peren nial plants that spread by creeping rhizomes, are homosporous and asexual, and have leaves reduced to nodal sheaths on the hollow jointed grooved shoots