File talk:Plàntula esparrec 26set2009.JPG

Equisetum arvense?

This photo looks rather like Equisetum, is it really Asparagus? Nadiatalent (talk) 13:11, 29 March 2012 (UTC)

Please see related post on my talk page.[1] --Walter Siegmund (talk) 16:59, 31 March 2012 (UTC)

I'm no expert on these species, but this individual lacks the "much-branched feathery foliage" of Asparagus, cf., File:Asparagus officinalis dewdrop.JPG. Instead, the leaves, which are rather stout, seem to arise from nodes on the stalk and are unbranched. Both are distinguishing features of Equisetum. --Walter Siegmund (talk) 18:36, 31 March 2012 (UTC)

Having looked at it some more, I'm certain of the genus and almost certain of the species. I've removed it from the Catalan wikipedia and changed the category, but don't know what to do about the file name. Nadiatalent (talk) 13:07, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

Since urgent action doesn't appear to be necessary (it has been in the Espàrrec for over a year[2]), I'd like to give Victor M. Vicente Selvas a chance to comment.[3] If no one complains, I will rename the file on or about April 6. Does that seem reasonable? --Walter Siegmund (talk) 19:44, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

The plant of the photo is really an Asparagus officinalis and is photographed in my own garden. in January 1993 I made a small asparagus plantation only about one meter from the young plant photographed. This little (selfseeded) plant is still growing under an apricot tree, like a weed, when i saw this plant I recognize and I respect it (this one was the first selfseeded of my asparagus plants) and I estimate easily its age. There are no Equisetum in this garden because the water table here is very deep.--Victor M. Vicente Selvas (talk) 20:22, 1 April 2012 (UTC)

That seems persuasive to me. Equisetum arvense requires vernally moist or wet soils. --Walter Siegmund (talk) 17:14, 2 April 2012 (UTC)