Teamster’s Tea
Ephedra vulgaris
Family: Ephedraceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub. It grows 2 m high and spreads 1.5 m wide. The stem is slender and has grooves. It is green and branches. The leaves are small and like scales. Plants are separately male and female. The male flowers have yellow pollen sacs. The cones are succulent and has 2 sections with a seed in each. The fruit are 1 cm long. They can be pink or red.
There are about 40 Ephedra species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is best in sandy, arid soils. It suits an open, sunny position. It is resistant to drought or frost. In Pakistan it grows in the Himalayas between 2,300-4,000 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, China (country/location of origin), Japan, North America, Pakistan, Siberia, USA
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves - tea, fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by seeds.