Ephedra distachya

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Ephedra distachya

Ephedra distachya, also known as Joint Pine, Jointfir, or Sea Grape, is a species of Ephedra native to southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest and central Asia. It is a shrub that grows in dry, sandy, or rocky habitats.

Pronunciation

Ephedra distachya: /ɪˈfɛdrə dɪˈstækiə/

Etymology

The genus name Ephedra comes from the Ancient Greek word ephédra, meaning "sitting upon", referring to the plant's habit of growing on top of rocks. The species name distachya is derived from the Greek words dis, meaning "two", and stachys, meaning "spike", referring to the plant's two-branched inflorescence.

Description

Ephedra distachya is a perennial shrub that grows up to 1 meter tall. The plant has slender, green to yellow-green stems that are jointed at the nodes. The tiny, scale-like leaves are fused into a sheath at each joint. The plant produces small, yellowish flowers in spring, followed by red, fleshy fruit in summer.

Medicinal Uses

Ephedra distachya has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. The plant contains the alkaloid ephedrine, which has stimulant and decongestant properties. It has been used to treat conditions such as asthma, hay fever, and the common cold. However, due to potential side effects and interactions with other drugs, the use of ephedra is regulated in many countries.

Related Terms

  • Ephedra: A genus of gymnosperm shrubs, the only genus in its family, Ephedraceae, and order, Ephedrales.
  • Ephedrine: A medication and stimulant used to prevent or reduce the symptoms of asthma, allergies, and colds.
  • Inflorescence: The complete flower head of a plant including stems, stalks, bracts, and flowers.

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