Woodland Horsetail
VU

Woodland Horsetail

Equisetum sylvaticum

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equisetum_sylvaticum

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Woodland Horsetail faces significant pressure from habitat fragmentation as ancient woodlands are cleared for agriculture and urban development. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moist, cool conditions this species requires, with warming temperatures and changing precipitation patterns affecting its specialized woodland microhabitats. The species' slow reproductive rate and dependence on specific soil chemistry make populations particularly vulnerable to environmental disturbances.

Threat summary

Habitat

Woodland Horsetail inhabits moist, shaded deciduous and mixed forests, particularly favoring areas with rich, well-drained soils near streams or in forest clearings. The species thrives in cool, humid microenvironments within mature woodland ecosystems across northern temperate regions.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Equisetaceae

Great HorsetailCR

Great Horsetail

Equisetum telmateia

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Woodland Horsetail classified as Vulnerable?
Woodland Horsetail is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Woodland Horsetail faces significant pressure from habitat fragmentation as ancient woodlands are cleared for agriculture and urban development. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moist, cool conditions this species requires, with warming temperatures and changing precipitation patterns affecting its specialized woodland microhabitats. The species' slow reproductive rate and dependence on specific soil chemistry make populations particularly vulnerable to environmental disturbances.
Where does Woodland Horsetail live?
Woodland Horsetail occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Woodland Horsetail?
The main threats to Woodland Horsetail are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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