Horsetails are of the genus equistem and are most common in the north. They are vascular plants that do not have seeds. The visible plant is a sporophyte. The division sphenophyta consists of 15 different species of the same genus, equisetum. These species are commonly called horsetails. Horsetails reproduce sexually, releasing spores during the sporangia phase of their lives. These spores develop into photosynthetic, free-living gametophytes. The gametophytes are bisexual, with all fertilization ocurring within the gametophyte. After fertilization, a young sporophyte emerges, which develops into the visible plant.

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Copyright © 1998, Kyle Jaster bio-web@sidwell.edu]