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Common Name:

General Information

Ephedra fragilis is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 1.80 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Europe - E. Mediterranean.

Habitat

Rocky hills and stone walls[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.80 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a well-drained loamy soil and a sunny position[]. Established plants are drought resistant and are also lime tolerant[].
Plants are not very hardy in Britain, tolerating a few degrees of frost[].
The report on medicinal uses refers specifically to E. fragilis campylopoda. (C.A.Meyer.)Ascherson.&Graebner. This plant is growing outdoors at Kew, probably planted in 1968, and seems to be perfectly hardy[]. It is said to come from N. Asia which is rather confusing since the report on medicinal uses is dealing with native plants of Greece[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. Sweet. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

Members of this genus contain various medicinally active alkaloids (but notably ephedrine) and they are widely used in preparations for the treatment of asthma and catarrh[, ]. The whole plant can be used at much lower concentrations than the isolated constituents - unlike using the isolated ephedrine, using the whole plant rarely gives rise to side-effects[]. The plant also has antiviral effects, particularly against influenza[]. The stems are a pungent, bitter, warm herb that dilates the bronchial vessels whilst stimulating the heart and central nervous system[, ]. The stems are also diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypertensive, nervine, pectoral, tonic, vasoconstrictor and vasodilator[, , ]. They are used internally in the treatment of asthma, hay fever and allergic complaints[]. They are also combined with a number of other herbs and used in treating a wide range of complaints[]. This herb should be used with great caution, preferably under the supervision of a qualified practitioner[]. It should not be prescribed to patients who are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or suffering from high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism or glaucoma[]. Ephedrine is seen as a performance-boosting herb and, as such, is a forbidden substance in many sporting events such as athletics[].
The stems can be harvested at any time of the year and are dried for later use[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a greenhouse[]. It can also be sown in spring in a greenhouse in a sandy compost[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in the spring or early summer after the last expected frosts and give some protection in their first winter[].
Division in spring or autumn[].
Layering.