Ephedra sinica

Stapf 1927

Common names

草麻黄 cao ma huang [Chinese], Chinese ephedra.

Taxonomic notes

Syn.: Ephedra flava F.P. Sm. 1871; E. ma-huang Tang S. Liu 1927. This taxon has long been recognized as a good species, but molecular analysis using both nuclear and chloroplast markers groups it within E. dahurica (Kakiuchi et al. 2011). To date, no other molecular analysis has confirmed this result, and contemporary authorities continue to treat it as a good species. Fu et al. (1999) recognize a variety, Ephedra sinica var. pumila Florin 1933, but as discussed by Kakiuchi et al. (2011) this variety should likely be classified within E. distachya, if recognized at all.

Description

"Subshrubs small, to 40 cm, sparsely branched; woody stems short or prostrate; branchlets straight or curved, sometimes slightly involute, internodes (2.5-)3-4(-5.5) cm × ca. 2 mm, shallowly furrowed. Leaves opposite, connate for 1/3-2/3 their length, free part subulate to narrowly triangular, to 5 mm, apex sharply pointed. Pollen cones sessile or pedunculate, solitary or in clusters at nodes, rarely terminal; bracts in 4 pairs, margin very narrow, membranous, apex obtuse or subacute; anthers 7 or 8, sessile or shortly stipitate. Seed cones terminal or axillary, solitary, oblong-ovoid or subglobose, ca. 8 × 6-7 mm at maturity; bracts in 4 pairs, connate for 1/2–3/4 their length, red and fleshy at maturity; integument tube 1-2 mm, straight or slightly curved. Seeds usually 2, black-red or grayish brown, concealed by or equaling bracts. Pollination May-Jun, seed maturity Aug-Sep. 2n = 28" (Fu et al. 1999).

Var. pumila differs from var. sinica "in its very low growth habit, often curved or involute branches, shorter nodes, and seed cones with only 2 or 3 pairs of bracts" (Fu et al. 1999).

Distribution and Ecology

Mongolia; China: Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Shanxi. Found on plains and mountain slopes at 700-1600 m elevation (Fu et al. 1999).

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2023.03.03.

Ethnobotany

"This species has medicinal properties" (Fu et al. 1999).

Observations

See the observations on iNaturalist, accessed 2021.12.29.

Remarks

The epithet sinica is Latin for "Chinese".

Citations

Florin. 1933. Kongl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl., ser. 3, 12:11.

Kakiuchi, N., M. Mikage, S. Ickert-Bond, M. Maier-Stolte, and H. Freitag. 2011. A molecular phylogenetic study of the Ephedra distachya/E. sinica complex in Eurasia. Willdenowia 41(2):203-215.

Stapf. 1927. Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1927:133. [not available online]

See also

Species profile at Plants of the World Online, accessed 2021.12.29.