Shrubby horsetail
Ephedra foliata

Family: Ephedraceae

What it is like

A sprawling shrub. It branches many times. It grows up to 1 m tall. The leaves are vary few and are narrow and opposite. The flowers are in spikes at the ends of branches. The flowers are white and cone shaped. The fruit are fleshy and are green but turn brown. They have a split at the tip making them heart shaped.

There are about 40 Ephedra species.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows on rocky slopes and sand dunes. It grows at higher altitudes in Bahrain.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bahrain, Djibouti, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Himalayas, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Alada, Andhokimp, Suaphogro

Synonyms

Ephedra ciliata Fisch. & C. A. Mey.; Ephedra alte C. A. Mey;