Ephedra americana
Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.
Ephedraceae
Ephedra peruviana Bertero ex Carr.
Common Name:
General Information
Ephedra americana is a much-branched, evergreen shrub with very small, scale-like leaves and green, wiry stems where most photosynthesis takes place; it can grow 2 metres or more tall[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, valued for its wiry stems and small red fruits, and can be used as a ground cover.
Ephedra americana has a wide range and does not appear to be facing any major threats. 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.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
Western S. America - Andean regions of northwest Argentina, northern Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador
Habitat
Shrubby grasslands or scrub to semi-desert, often associated with cacti on dry rocky slopes and hills or on sandy/clayey soils; at elevations from 1,500 - 4,100 metres[
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.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 2.00 m |
| Self-fertile | No |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Most Ephedra species are native to warm, dry, inhospitable regions, frequently found on stony slopes and gravel terraces, often on limestone[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Ephedra americana is found mainly in the subtropical regions of the Andes and is generally not very frost tolerant..
Requires a porous, freely-draining soil in a sunny position[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
A dioecious plant, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Edible Uses
The stems are drunk as a tonic tea[
508- Title
- The Ethnobotany of Chinchero.
- Publication
- Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 24
- Author
- Franquemont C. Et al
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0015-0746
- Description
- Brief details on the local uses of plants for an Andean community in southern Peru. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Medicinal
The plant is a diuretic and blood cleanser[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. A decoction or infusion of the branches and roots is used[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. Drunk as a tonic, possibly to help the kidneys[
508- Title
- The Ethnobotany of Chinchero.
- Publication
- Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 24
- Author
- Franquemont C. Et al
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0015-0746
- Description
- Brief details on the local uses of plants for an Andean community in southern Peru. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The stems of many members of this genus contain the alkaloid ephedrine and are of value in the treatment of asthma and many other complaints of the respiratory system[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. However, species from the Americas (such as this one) are said to be lacking this alkaloid[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
Division.
Layering.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
