Ephedra gerardiana

Family: Ephedraceae

What it is like

A creeping evergreen shrub. The branches are thin and dark green. It grows 30 cm high. It spreads 1.8 m wide. The leaves are reduced to sheaths at the nodes of the branches. The male flowers are in single spikes. The female flowers occur singly. The fruit are small and purple. They have a sticky juice.

There are about 40 Ephedra species. It is used in medicine. It is a source of the alkaloid ephedrine.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows well over rocky banks. It grows in dry and temperate regions between 2,300 - 5,100 m altitude in the Indian Himalayas. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Canada, Central Asia, China, Europe, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim, Tajikistan, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. It contains alkaloids including ephedrine.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Asmania, Budagur, Butshubr, Charay, Chepat, Chewa, Chhapat, Khanda phag, Lata, Ma Huang, Somlata, Tachi, Teapat, Thayon, Trano, Tse, Tsepat, Tutgantha

Synonyms

Ephedra vulgaris Hook.f. non A.Rich.;