Ma Huang, Chinese ephedra
Ephedra sinica
Family: Ephedraceae
What it is like
A small shrub. It has many branches. It grows 20-40 cm high. The branches are green. The leaves are opposite and brown. The pollen cones occur singly. The cones are near the ends of short side branches. The ripe cones are red and fleshy. There are 3 seeds that are oval and 3 sided. These are 5-6 mm long.
It is used in medicine. There are about 40 Ephedra species.
Where it is found
It is a cool temperate plant. It grows in semi-desert places and rock-cliffs in NW China. It can grow in arid places. In Inner Mongolia.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Japan, Mongolia
How it is used for food
The mature female cone is used as a fruit and to refine sugar. The fruit are used for tea.
Edible parts
Fruit, cone, seeds - tea, branches - tea
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Zegergen-e