Ephedra pedunculata

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Clap-weed
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Gnetophyta
Class: Gnetopsida
Order: Ephedrales
Family: Ephedraceae
Genus: Ephedra
Species:
E. pedunculata
Binomial name
Ephedra pedunculata
Engelm. ex S. Watson

Ephedra pedunculata, common name vine Mormon tea or Comida de Vívora, is a plant species native to southern Texas and to Mexico as far south as Zacatecas. It grows in sandy or rocky slopes and outcrops.[1][2]

Most species of Ephedra (called "Mormon tea") are shrubs, but Ephedra pedunculata is a trailing or clambering woody vine up to 7 m (23 ft) long. Bark is gray, becoming cracked with age. Leaves are opposite, up to 3 mm (0.12 in) long. Microsporangial (pollen-producing cones) are 1–2 mm long, compared to less than 1 mm in many other species. Seed cones are 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long, each containing 2 ellipsoid seeds 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long.[3][4][5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Flora of North America v 2
  2. ^ CONABIO. 2009. Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México. 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, Mexico D.F.
  3. ^ Watson, Sereno. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 18: 157. 1883.
  4. ^ Cutler, H. C. 1939. Monograph of the North American species of the genus Ephedra. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 26: 373--427.
  5. ^ Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson.