Odd Weed .. any ideas

[mkidston]

We've recently dug a lot of the garden over to make into veg beds however I can't seem to get rid of this particular little annoyance it just seems to pop up all over the place, even in turned over soil :

[img]https://img189.imageshack.us/img189/2083/p1306091001.jpg[/img]

Any ideas as to what the thing is and how I get it out from my brocolli patch would be appreciated This is in the NW of England, and it seems very prevalent around here..

Mick[/img]

[applestar]

Ah! This is horsetail (Equisetum spp.) It's sort of a prehistoric plant, like Gingko biloba. It contains high concentration of silica and can be used as scouring agent. It also has some medicinal value. Here's one description: https://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/horsetail-000257.htm

There is a Japanese variety that is edible and is used to make a side dish with the new brown shoots.

So as you can see, it's more of an HERB, than weed....

When I was little, we used to play a game with the green fronds -- they are segmented and detach with a little pull. The game was for one person to detach, then carefully re-attach, then the others had to guess where the break was by pointing.

[mkidston]

Thanks applestar now I'll feel guilty as I weed !!! on the plus side the Mother in Law has osteoporosis so I mught be able to chuck a bit of it her way