Ephedraceae FAMILY Least Concern

Ephedra pedunculata

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Many species in this genus contain phenylethylamine alkaloids (e.g. ephedrine, pseudoephedrine). These compounds have stimulant properties and are effective medications in the treatment of a number of conditions. However, they do also have potential side effects and are contraindicated in a number of conditions including anxiety, anorexia, bulimia, diabetes, glaucoma, hypertension, thyrotoxicosis[ 2129 Title Ephedra foeminea Forssk. Publication Flora Palestina Ethnobotany website accessed 16/01/2023 Author Website https://florapal.org/plant/ephedra-foeminea/ Publisher Year 2023 ISBN Description ].

Botanical Description

Ephedra pedunculata is a climing, evergreen shrub with very small, scale-like leaves and green, wiry stems where most of the photosynthesis takes place; it can grow around 6 - 7 metres tall, the stems sometimes scrambling over the ground if no support is available[ 2128 Title Revisión Taxonómica y Distribución Geográfica de Ephedra (Ephedraceae) en México Publication Acta Botanica Mexicana 96: 79-116 (2011) Author Villanueva-Almanza L. & Fonseca R.M. Publisher Year 2011 ISBN Description ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. The range of Ephedra pedunculata is somewhat restricted, but not small enough to meet the threshold for a threatened category.Due to a lack of any known major threats, the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouthern N. America - southwest Texas to northeast Mexico

HabitatDeserts and arid shrubland, growing in calcareous, gravelly soil in dry, rocky areas; at elevations from 800 - 2,500 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].