Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a native perennial herbaceous plant species found across the United Kingdom. Belonging to the Equisetaceae family, it is commonly encountered in various habitats, including grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, and disturbed areas such as roadsides and wastelands.

Field Horsetail thrives in nutrient-poor, well-drained soils, often favouring acidic or sandy substrates. It can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, from dry to moist habitats, and is frequently found in both sunny and partially shaded locations.

Predators of Field Horsetail include herbivores such as deer and rabbits, which may graze on its foliage. However, its tough, abrasive stems and high silica content often deter extensive browsing.

As a perennial plant, Field Horsetail can live for several years, forming dense colonies through its creeping rhizomes. It reproduces both sexually, via the production of spore-bearing cones, and vegetatively through its underground rhizomatous growth.

Culturally, Field Horsetail does not hold significant symbolic or traditional references in the UK. However, it has been used in traditional herbal medicine for its purported diuretic and astringent properties.

An interesting fact about Field Horsetail is its ancient lineage, dating back to the time of dinosaurs. It is considered a living fossil, belonging to one of the oldest plant families on Earth, with ancestors that thrived over 100 million years ago. Additionally, Field Horsetail has been used historically for its abrasive texture in polishing and scrubbing applications.