Aerial stems dimorphic; vegetative stems green, branched, 16--50 cm; hollow center 1/6--1/3 stem diam. Sheaths somewhat elongate, 3--5 × 2--4 mm; teeth 8--18, narrow, 1.5--4 mm, centers dark and margins white. Branches in regular whorls, horizontal to drooping, solid; ridges 3; valleys channeled; 1st internode of each branch equal to or longer than subtending stem sheath; sheath teeth deltate. Fertile stems brown, with stomates, initially unbranched, persisting and becoming branched and green after spore discharge.
Phenology
Cones maturing in late spring
Altitude range
0--2000 m
Distribution
n Eurasia to ne ChinaJapan in Hokkaido.USA AlaskaUSA Conn.USA Ill.USA IowaUSA MaineUSA Mass.USA Mich.USA Minn.USA N.H.USA N.Y.USA N.Dak.USA Vt.USA Wis.Canada Alta.Canada B.C.Canada Man.Canada N.B.Canada Nfld.Canada N.W.T.Canada N.S.Canada Ont.Canada P.E.I.Canada Que.Canada Sask.Canada Yukon
