Get me if im wrong, But I believe these used to be trees millions of years ago.

After I posted I found it in my herb book, which I didn't think to look in originally. It tells me that Equisetum Arvense has been used since Roman times as a medicinal herb to heal wounds and ulcers and as culinary herb to aid circulation, that its strile stems can be used to produce a vibrant yellow dye and that its dried stems steeped in bioling water, strained and sprayed on plants acts as an effective insecticide. Interesting, but I don't think I'll be adding it to my herb garden since it seems that it's pretty difficult to control once it takes a hold. Thanks for identifying it - much apperciated.