high climbing jointfir
Ephedra altissima
Ephedra family (Ephedraceae)
High climbing healer
Ephedra is a leafless shrub belonging to the Ephedra or jointfir family (Ephedraceae). This family of gymnosperms is very isolated, at least an order in its own right. Its only two somewhat related genera (that do not resemble one another at all) are Gnetum and Welwitschia. Together they are referred to as the Gnetales and there are all kinds of fossils identified as belonging to this group. The fundamental characteristic that binds these species has also been validated by DNA investigations and well may serve as an example of where plant morphologists were right afterall.
This species is one of the few belonging to the genus Ephedra, which is no dwarf shrub but a climber. It is found in northwestern Africa. All 50 species of Ephedra contain ephedrine, which is used as a medicine to help respiratory disorders.
Themes
Crown jewel in the Blijdenstein Pinetum.
Part of the Dutch National Ephedra collection.
The highest climbing Ephedra.
Contains ephedrine used in treatments for respiratory ailments.
Details
Description: | Herbaceous climber, climber |
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Distributions: | North africa |
Habitat: | Desert |
Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic evergreen) |
Hardiness: | 23 - 34 f (half-hardy - unheated glasshouse/mild winter) |
Flowering period: | Januari - november |
Flower color: | Not applicable |
Notes on flowers: | No flowers |
Fruiting period: | Januari - november |
Sources
D. Bensky & S. Clavey & E. Stöger: Materia medica,http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/201672/0,
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ephedra+altissima