Which of the following is characteristic features of Ephedra?

Which of the following is characteristic features of Ephedra?

Physical description. Members of the genus Ephedra are low, straggling, or climbing desert shrubs. The leaves, reduced to scales about one centimetre long, are opposite or whorled about the nodes of green branchlets. The bulk of photosynthesis occurs in the green stems.

What are Angiospermic features of Ephedra plant?

Like Equisetum, the stem is green, ribbed, branched, fluted and differentiated into nodes and internodes (Fig. 1B). It is distinctly jointed fir) (therefore, commonly known as jointed fir). It performs the function of photosynthesis and may be called as phylloclade.

How do I know if I have Ephedra?

Ephedra is a most unusual and thus easily remembered shrub and it is very common in semi-desert sand, rock, mesas, and canyons. Leaves are reduced to tiny dark scales; the number of leaves (and bracts) grouped together is key in identifying the various species: E. torreyana has leaves and bracts grouped in threes; E.

What is the order of Ephedra?

Ephedrales
Ephedra/Order

What are the effects of Ephedra?

Ephedra can cause a quickened heartbeat and elevated blood pressure. Side effects include heart palpitations, nausea, and vomiting. More than 800 dangerous reactions have been reported with use of the herb. These include heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and sudden deaths.

What is the medical definition of an ephedra?

Medical Definition of ephedra. 1a capitalized : a large genus of gymnospermous shrubs (family Gnetaceae) of dry or desert regions with jointed stems and leaves reduced to scales. b : any plant of the genus Ephedra.

How many species of Ephedra shrubs are there?

Ephedra, genus of 65 species of gymnosperm shrubs of the family Ephedraceae. Ephedra is an evolutionally isolated group and is the only genus in the order Ephedrales (division Gnetophyta ).

How are the phylogenies of ephedra related to geography?

Huang et al. (2005) find that phylogenetics in the genus are highly correlated with geography, with distinct groups in the Americas, Asia, and the Europe-Mediterreanean region. Ickert-Bond and Renner (2016) summarize phylogenetic relationships within Ephedra as follows: “Molecular phylogenies of Ephedra by now have included 56 species.

Which is the sole genus in the family Ephedraceae?

Ephedra is the sole genus in Ephedraceae Dumortier 1829, which some authors designate as the sole family in Order Ephedrales Dumortier 1829 (alternatively, in Order Gnetales Luersson).