Alternate leaves are willow-like and are darker on the upper surface than underneath. Rich wet forest edges on Rabbit Run and Brook Trail Horsetails are sometimes called 'scouring rushes' because of their appearance and their abrasiveness due to silica content which explains their once common use for scrubbing pots and pans. This ancient plant is well represented in the fossil record and appears to have changed little since the Paleozoic Era. Highly branched shoots grow from the upper part of the stem in horizontal whorls. The plant may reach 30 cm.
Reproduction is by spores.
This inconspicuous, weak-stemmed plant reclines on surrounding vegetation. Long, narrow upper leaves are opposite and lower leaves grow in whorls of 4 to 6 at nodes on the square stems. Terminal clusters of small white 4-petalled flowers appear in late summer. Forest edges and clearings, mossy woods and logs on all trails Fresh leaves of Snowberry make excellent tea. Wintergreen-flavored berries are fine fresh or preserved, Ground hugging Creeping Snowberry has dark green oval leaves.