Common mare's tail growing on the Tibetan Plateau, China

Common mare's tail growing on the Tibetan Plateau, China

The common mare’s tail (Hippuris vulgaris), not to be confused with horsetail or cattail, is an aquatic plant that grows across a wide range of territory, from the wetlands of North America to the high altitudes of the Tibetan Plateau. This perennial herb grows in shallow water and mud. In herbal medicine, mare’s tail is sometimes used to heal wounds. But in some circles, it’s just considered a weed.