Ephedra nutans

Miau & Xiao L.Pan (1996)

Common names

None are known.

Taxonomic notes

Type: Xinjiang ("Singkiang"), holotype SYS (IPNI). The original description says "sine data, Depart. Biol. Singkiang Univ. 2167 (typus, SYS)", which suggests that the species was described on the basis of a collection specimen found in the files but without any documentation at all except that it was collected in Xinjiang. As best I can determine, the taxon has not been mentioned in any research or inventory published since its description, and I have not found an herbarium specimen in any of the usual large online catalogues. It seems likely that this sole specimen could be assigned to another known Ephedra taxon. Five species are known from Xinjiang, and the stated differences from E. equisetina (see below) may well be within the range of natural variation for that species.

Description

This is a translation of the Latin description in the protologue: "New species very similar to E. equisetina Bunge, but plants are smaller, up to the distal half of the leaves is 2-lobed, the seed cones are subtended by ovate bracts, short nutating stems, and a deltoid-ovoid seed. Herbaceous shrubs, about 20 cm tall; woody stems shorter, erect, about 3 mm diameter, ruby-brown, branched at base; woody branches somewhat brown, about 1-2 cm long; twigs opposite at nodes, with a distinct longitudinal groove, internodes 0.8-2.3 cm long, 1 mm diameter, gray-green. Leaves 2-3 mm long, 2-lobed up to 1/2 their length, deltoid lobes acute or obtuse at apex. Strobili unisexual monoecious; pollen cone ovoid, 5 mm long × 2.5 mm wide, shortly stalked; bracts 3-joined, lower bract thickly membranous, ovate, about 2 mm long, acute at apex, connate at base; upper pair of bracts small, broadly deltoid-ovate, keeled at middle; pseudotepalum [not a word, but seems to refer to a bract] broadly obovate-orbiculate, rounded at apex; stamens 6, filaments entirely connate, anthers sessile; seed cone 2-3 fasciculate or solitary at node, stalked; stalks 2-3 mm long, swaying; bracts 3-joined, ovate, lower bract smallest, only conjunct at base, gradually enlarged upwards, upper bracts almost 1/2 connate; integument tube about 0.5 mm long. Seed 1, delteo-ovoid, 5 mm long, 2 mm diameter, opaque black, not shiny" (Miau and Pan 1996).

The authors were likely more comfortable with Chinese, so here is a translation of their Chinese text: "An herbaceous shrub with opposite branchlets and leaves that are bifid at the apex. Morphologically, it bears a strong resemblance to Ephedra equisetina Bunge; however, it differs in having a shorter stature, more deeply bifid leaves, ovate bracts on the female cones, short-stalked and pendulous cones, and triangular-ovoid seeds" (Miau and Pan 1996).

Distribution and Ecology

China: Xinjiang (Miau and Pan 1996). Nothing more is known.

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2026-04-03.

Ethnobotany

No data as of 2026-04-03.

Observations

No data as of 2026-04-03.

Remarks

The epithet means "nodding", likely in reference to the pendulous seed cones.

Citations

Miau Ruhai and Pan Xiao Ling. 1996. Acta Sci. Nat. Univ. Sunyatseni 35(Suppl. 2): 45. Available: https://xuebaozr.sysu.edu.cn/en/article/43642955/. Abstract: In this paper 7 new species and 1 new record from Singkiang Flora are reported. The new species are : Ephedra nutans Miau et Pan, Clematis heterostemonis Miau et Pan, Viola singkiangensis Miau et Pan, Androsace lamellososcapa Miau et Pan, Solanum acanthoversabilis Miau et Pan, Eremurus latibraceatus Miau et Pan and Allium acrotepalum Miau et Pan. But Oxytropis pseudocoerulea P. C. Li is treated as a new record in the Flora. The Types are all deposited at Sunyatsen University Herbarium (SYS).

See also