Botany
Putod is a perennial herbs, with jointed and branched rootstock. Roots are in whorls from the nodes.
Stem is hollow and noding, the length of the internode 2 to 6 cm with longitudinal striations at the surface. Leaves are obsolete, reduced to scales around the node. Cones (strobili) are oblong, green-yellow in color depending on maturity, terminal or spirally borne on the tip of the stem.

The species differs from Equisetum debile in that the fertile stems are much branched, and are grooved and rough.

Distribution
Probably widely distributed throughout the Philippines at medium, to high altitudes (about 1,000 to 6,000 ft above sea level). Usually found along exposed stream embankments on sandy to stony soil. Easily overlooked because it blends with grassy landscape. Easily grown in ordinary garden soil.

Parts utilized:
· Stem.
· Collected year round.
· Rinse, cut into pieces, and dry under the sun.

Properties
Sweet and slightly bitter tasting.
Cleanses the liver and clears the eyesight.
Diuretic and astringent.

Uses
Folkloric
• Hypertension, reddening and swelling pain in the eye, pterygium of the cornea.
• Used for diarrhea, jaunditic hepatitis, and renal lithiasis.
• Dosage: 15 to 30 gms of dried material in decoction.
• In China, decoction of whole plant used from wounds and ulcers. Also, used as antitussive and diuretic.
• In India, used as cooling medicine for gonorrhea.

Studies
• Antioxidant: Study on scavenger activities of three equietum species, including E ramosissimum, showed E telmatela to have the most scavenger and antioxidant activity.

Availability
Wild-crafted. 

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Free radical scavenging activity of three Equisetum species from Fruska gora mountain / Fitoterapia / 2006, vol. 77, no7-8, pp. 601-60
(2)
A Review on the Potential Uses of Ferns / M Mannar Mannan, M Maridass and B Victor / Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 281-285. 2008.