Common Name:

General Information

Ephedra minuta is a small, erect, much-branched, evergreen shrub with very small, scale-like leaves and green, wiry stems where most of the photosynthesis takes place; it can grow around 5 - 25cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for medicinal use.
Ephedra minuta occurs over a large range and is under no specific threat at present. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Central and eastern Asia - Tadjikistan, central China (Qinghai to Sichuan)

Habitat

Grassland, shrubland and rocky areas in high mountains; at elevations from 2,000 - 4,800 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.20 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Ephedra species are mainly temperate to subtropical plants, native to arid and semi-arid regions and are also found in seasonally dry habitats such as Mediterranean climates. They are often found at moderate to high elevations, especially when they occur in tropical regions
Requires a sunny position in a freely-draining soil. It grows well in dry soils and is very drought tolerant once established[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Plants require a good summer in order to fully ripen their wood - this will encourage good flowering and fruiting the following summer.

Edible Uses

The red, pruinose fruit is fleshy[].

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[].

Ephedra species, especially those found in Asia, have a long history of medicinal use, particularly in the treatment of respiratory conditions such as asthma, hay fever, catarrh and coughs. They are also considered to be antisyphilitic, antipyretic and circulatory stimulants. The main active substances are alkaloids, particularly ephedrine and the closely related pseudoephedrine, though many other alkaloids can be present[, ].
Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are found mainly in the Asian species; those species in the Americas generally have much lower or zero levels, though they do contaim various other alkaloids. These American species often have a high reputation as a refreshing tonic tea that promotes kidney and urinary tract health[, ].
The isolated Ephedrine is often used medicinally as a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant to prevent low blood pressure during anesthesia, and to treat conditions including asthma, narcolepsy, and obesity. However, the isolated compound can have various side effects and it has been shown that the whole plant can be used at much lower concentrations than the isolated alkaloid and rarely gives rise to side-effects[].

Ephedra does not cure asthma but in many cases it is very effective in treating the symptoms and thus making life somewhat easier for the sufferer. The stems can be used fresh or dried and are usually made into a tea, though the young stems can also be eaten raw[]. 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.