Common Name:

General Information

Ephedra monosperma is a small, prostrate, much-branched, evergreen shrub, often with long subterranean trunks or creeping runners. It hash very small, scale-like leaves and green, wiry stems where most of the photosynthesis takes place; it can grow around 3 - 25cm tall[, , ].
The plant is often harvested from the wild in Mongolia for local use as a medicine.
Ephedra monosperma occurs over a wide range in a variety of habitats and is not known to be under any 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

Asia - Siberia to Mongolia, northern and central China, Russian Far East (Primorye)

Habitat

Sunny, rocky slopes, limestone crevices, and dry places, sometimes on slopes of river valleys among rocks, often with sparse Juniper and shrub vegetation or dry pine forest; at elevations from 1,400 - 4,800 metres[, , ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.15 m
Pollinators	Wind
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 fruit is juicy[]. The red, globose fruit is around 6 - 9mm in diameter, containing a single seed[, ].

Medicinal

The plant is adrenomimetic and bronchodilator[]. It has a bitter taste, is astringent and the potency is cool. It is used in the treatment of a range of disorders including hot disorders of the bile and spleen; congestion, fevers, wounds, and dysentery. It is also beneficial in the treatment of lung disorders and polyuria[].
It is an ingredient of the following traditional prescriptions in Mongolia: Gagol-11, Gurgum-7, Gurchun, Sugmel garbo-17, and Dudzi-5.

The plant contains several alkaloids including ephedrine, pseudoephedrine
norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, methylephedrine, and methylpseudoephedrine. It also contains tannins, anthocyanins, leucoanthocyanins[].

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.