Horsetails from Bayreuth

Neocalamites lehmannianus From this horsetail mainly casts of the central cavity of the thick stems have been found, as well as rhizomes (underground stems with roots at the nodes). The diameter of the stems is mostly about 3 - 5 cm and the length of the stem parts between two nodes is about 12 - 15 cm. It was a tall plant and it branched only rarely. The leaflets are (as in all plants of this group)  placed in whirls on the nodes and they are free from each other up to the base. The stems have a very fine longitudinal striping.

Schizoneura carcinoides From this plant, on the contrary, mostly stems with leaves have been found. The leaflets of a whirl are in most cases divided into two groups and they are free from each other upto the base or connected by a thin rim. The leaflets are about 3 mm wide and they can reach a length of 10 cm, being usually shorter. The difference with the preceding species is simple: thick stems without leaves or with loose small leaflets is Neocalamites, thin twigs with clear whirls of long leaflets are Schizoneura.

Equisetites muensteri has rather thin stems (up to 3 cm, mostly 2 cm) with a wider longitudinal striping than Neocalamites. There are clear leaf sheaths with long teeth, which are connected at the base. Sepp and Traute Hauptmann (1994) have given an excellent reconstruction of this plant in the Fossilien magazine.

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