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Ephedraceae

Ephedraceae
Ephedraceae image
  • FNA
  • SW Field Guide
  • Resources
Dennis Wm. Stevenson in Flora of North America (vol. 2)
Shrubs or vines , erect or clambering, Equisetum -like, dioecious (very rarely monoecious). Bark gray to reddish brown, cracked and fissured. Branches generally many, terete, whorled to fascicled, finely longitudinally grooved, internodes 1--10 cm. Roots generally fibrous. Leaves simple, opposite and decussate or whorled, scalelike, connate at base to form sheath, generally ephemeral, mostly not photosynthetic; resin canals absent. Pollen cones compound, 1--10 in whorls at nodes; each compound cone composed of 2--8 sets of opposite or whorled membranous bracts, proximal bracts empty, each distal bract subtending a small cone composed of 2 basally fused bracteoles subtending a sporangiophore bearing 2--10(--15) sessile to long-stalked, bilocular, apically dehiscent, pollen-producing microsporangia. Pollen prolate, with 6--12 longitudinal furrows, not winged. Seed cones compound, 1--10 in whorls at nodes of twigs; each compound cone sessile or on short to long peduncle, composed of 2--10 sets of overlapping, opposite or whorled, membranous or papery to fleshy bracts, proximal bracts empty, most distal bracts subtending 1 axillary cone composed of a pair of fused bracteoles enclosing a single-integumented ovule with integument projecting as tube from bracteole-envelope, envelope forming a leathery 'seed coat' that is shed with seed. Seeds 1--2(--3) per compound seed cone, yellow to dark brown, smooth or furrowed; cotyledons 2.

In addition to the characters given in the key to families, wood anatomy can be used to distinguish Ephedra from the other gymnosperms in the flora. Only Ephedra has small cones, ring porous wood, wide multiseriate rays, and vessels in older stems.

Since antiquity, several species of Ephedra have been used medicinally worldwide. Such uses include cough medicines, an antipyretic, an antisyphilitic, a stimulant for poor circulation, and an antihistamine. These uses are based on the presence of tannins and alkaloids, particularly ephedrines.

Common Name: Torrey's jointfir Duration: Perennial Nativity: Native Lifeform: Subshrub
Species within checklist: Western Rangeland Plant Identification List || << 1 - 50 taxa >>
Ephedra alata
Media resource of Ephedra alata
Ephedra alte
Media
not available
Ephedra altissima
Media resource of Ephedra altissima
Ephedra americana
Media resource of Ephedra americana
Ephedra andina
Media resource of Ephedra andina
Ephedra antisyphilitica
Media resource of Ephedra antisyphilitica
Ephedra aphylla
Media resource of Ephedra aphylla
Ephedra arenicola
Media resource of Ephedra arenicola
Ephedra aspera
Media resource of Ephedra aspera
Ephedra breana
Media resource of Ephedra breana
Ephedra californica
Media resource of Ephedra californica
Ephedra campulopoda
Media resource of Ephedra campulopoda
Ephedra chilensis
Media resource of Ephedra chilensis
Ephedra compacta
Media resource of Ephedra compacta
Ephedra coryi
Media resource of Ephedra coryi
Ephedra cutleri
Media resource of Ephedra cutleri
Ephedra distachya
Media resource of Ephedra distachya
Ephedra equisetina
Media resource of Ephedra equisetina
Ephedra fasciculata
Media resource of Ephedra fasciculata
Ephedra fedtschenkoae
Media resource of Ephedra fedtschenkoae
Ephedra foeminea
Media resource of Ephedra foeminea
Ephedra foliata
Media resource of Ephedra foliata
Ephedra fragilis
Media resource of Ephedra fragilis
Ephedra frustillata
Media resource of Ephedra frustillata
Ephedra funerea
Media resource of Ephedra funerea
Ephedra gerardiana
Media resource of Ephedra gerardiana
Ephedra gracilis
Media resource of Ephedra gracilis
Ephedra intermedia
Media resource of Ephedra intermedia
Ephedra intermixta
Media resource of Ephedra intermixta
Ephedra lomatolepis
Media resource of Ephedra lomatolepis
Ephedra major
Media resource of Ephedra major
Ephedra minuta
Media
not available
Ephedra monosperma
Media resource of Ephedra monosperma
Ephedra multiflora
Media resource of Ephedra multiflora
Ephedra nevadensis
Media resource of Ephedra nevadensis
Ephedra ochreata
Media resource of Ephedra ochreata
Ephedra pachyclada
Media resource of Ephedra pachyclada
Ephedra pedunculata
Media resource of Ephedra pedunculata
Ephedra przewalskii
Media resource of Ephedra przewalskii
Ephedra regeliana
Media resource of Ephedra regeliana
Ephedra rupestris
Media resource of Ephedra rupestris
Ephedra sarcocarpa
Media resource of Ephedra sarcocarpa
Ephedra sinica
Media resource of Ephedra sinica
Ephedra somalensis
Media
not available
Ephedra strobilacea
Media resource of Ephedra strobilacea
Ephedra tilhoana
Media
not available
Ephedra torreyana
Media resource of Ephedra torreyana
Ephedra triandra
Media resource of Ephedra triandra
Ephedra trifurca
Media resource of Ephedra trifurca
Ephedra trifurcata
Media resource of Ephedra trifurcata
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