Ephedra rupestris
Ephedra rupestris
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 rupestris is a much-branched, evergreen shrub with very small, scale-like leaves and green, wiry stems where most photosynthesis takes place. Forming dense cushions up to 60cm high, it is often more or less prostrate[ 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. , 1915 Title Ethnobotany of the Andes Publication Author Bussmann R.W. & Paniagua-Zambrana N.Y. (Editors) Website https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28933-1 Publisher Springer Nature; Switzerland Year 2020 ISBN 978-3-030-28932-4 Description ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, Ephedra rupestris is a wide ranging species occurring across the Andes at high elevations and is under no major threats at present. 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. ].