Ephedraceae FAMILY Least Concern

Ephedra aphylla

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Ephedra aphylla is a much-branched, erect to decumbent, evergreen shrub, sometimes adopting a more climbing habit and scrambling into the surrounding vegetation. It has very small, scale-like leaves and green, wiry stems where most of the photosynthesis takes place; it usually grows up to 140cm tall, sometimes more when it climbs[ 329 Title The Gymnosperm Database Publication Author Website http://www.conifers.org/index.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A vast amount of information on conifers and families of gymnosperms. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. Ephedra aphylla does not meet any of the thresholds for a threatened status. It is reported to be locally common, it occurs in some protected areas, is under no specific threat and is known from some relatively recent collections. 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouthern and eastern Mediterranean - Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria

HabitatOften found in rocky gorges and in fissured rocks, though also occurring in diverse habitats such as on cliffs, along wadis, and with deeply-rooted plants along irrigation ditches; at elevations from 700 - 2,000 metres[ 329 Title The Gymnosperm Database Publication Author Website http://www.conifers.org/index.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A vast amount of information on conifers and families of gymnosperms. , 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. ].