Ephedra pseudodistachya

Pachom. 1968

Common names

No data as of 2022.12.30.

Taxonomic notes

The molecular analysis by Kakiuchi et al. (2011) used nrITS1 sequences and placed E. pseudodistachya in a clade with E. lomatolepis and E. przewalskii, very distinct from the E. distachya clade. This was significant because on morphological grounds, there had previously been doubt whether E. distachya and E. pseudodistachya are distinct species; that is now resolved. However, these findings also suggest that E. przewalskii, E. lomatolepis, and E. pseudodistachya may not warrant distinction at species rank, in which case E. lomatolepis, described in 1845, would have priority. Rydin and Korall (2009) reach a similar conclusion in their molecular analysis, but Freitag and Maier-Stolte (2009) find it a good species, morphologically distinct, and list 34 herbarium specimens.

Description

Shrubs to 20(-40) cm tall. Twigs often contorted, 1-1.1 mm wide, papillose. Leaves 1.5(2)-2.5(3) mm, fused for 1/2-2/3 of their length, sheaths bulging and dark brown at base. Female cones 2-seeded, inner bracts fused for ca. 1/2 their length; micropyle 0.7-1.2 mm, erect (Freitag and Maier-Stolte 2009). Kakiuchi et al. (2011) note that the species can be distinguished from E. distachya by the reddish-brownish base of leaf sheaths, and a more delicate habit, with thinner twigs and being usually only 5–20 cm high.

Herbarium sheet scan at FloraGREIF, accessed 2022.12.30.

Distribution and Ecology

E Kazakhstan, N Mongolia and Russia (GBIF 2021.12.29, based on 33 occurrences; Peschkova 2005).

The IUCN has not prepared an evaluation of this taxon. However, it is still probably accurate to assess E. pseudodistachya as "least concern" under IUCN criteria due to its extensive area of occupancy.

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2023.03.03.

Ethnobotany

No data as of 2022.12.30.

Observations

See the observations on iNaturalist, accessed 2021.12.30.

Remarks

The epithet means "false distachya", indicating a resemblance to E. distachya.

Citations

Freitag, H. and M. Maier-Stolte. 2009. Ephedraceae. In FloraGREIF, the virtual herbarium of Mongolia. https://floragreif.uni-greifswald.de/taxon/?flora_search=Taxon&taxon_id=3526, accessed 2022.12.30.

Pachomova, M. G. 1968. P. 198–199 in: Kovalevskaya S. S. (ed.), Conspectus florae Asiae Mediae, Vol 1. Tashkent: Academia Scientiarum USSR.

Peschkova, G. A. 2005. Synopsis of the Siberian Ephedra species (Ephedraceae). Bot. Zhurn. 90: 423–426.

Rydin, Catarina, and Petra Korall. 2009. Evolutionary Relationships in Ephedra (Gnetales), with Implications for Seed Plant Phylogeny. International Journal of Plant Sciences 170(8):1031–43. https://doi.org/10.1086/605116.

See also

Species profile at Plants of the World Online, accessed 2022.12.30.