From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ephedra viridis
Ephedra viridis
Description
Ephedra viridis
This shrub is woody below, topped with many dense clus-
ters of erect bright green twigs. They may yellow some-
what with age. Nodes along the twigs are marked by the
tiny pairs of vestigial leaves, which start out reddish but
soon dry to brown or black. Since the leaves are no longer
functional, the stems are green and photosynthetic.[2]
Male plants produce pollen cones at the nodes, each un-
der a centimeter long with protruding yellowish sporan-
giophores. Female plants produce seed cones which are
slightly larger and contain two seeds each.
Uses
The drug ephedrine, an antidepressant and deconges-
tant, is made from this and other Ephedra species. A tea
can be made by boiling the stems,[2] explaining the com-
mon name "green Mormon tea".
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae References
Division: Gnetophyta [1] "Ephedra viridis information from NPGS/GRIN".
www.ars-grin.gov. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-
Class: Gnetopsida bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?316663. Retrieved
Order: Ephedrales 2008-04-17.
[2] ^ Laird R. Blackwell (2002), Wildflowers of the Eastern
Family: Ephedraceae
Sierra and adjacent Mojave Desert and Great Basin,
Genus: Ephedra Lone Pine Publishing, ISBN 10:1-55105-281-4
Species: E. viridis
Binomial name
External links
Ephedra viridis • Media related to Ephedra viridis at Wikimedia
Coville[1] Commons
• Jepson Manual Treatment
Ephedra viridis is a species of Ephedra known by the com- • USDA Plants Profile
mon names green ephedra and green Mormon tea It is tea. • Ecology
native to the western United States, where it is a member • Photo gallery
of varied scrub, woodland, and open habitats.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ephedra_viridis&oldid=453933941"
Categories:
• Ephedraceae
• Flora of the California desert regions
• Flora of the Great Basin desert region
• Flora of the Southwestern United States
• Start-Class plant articles
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ephedra viridis
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