Ephedra nevadensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is primarily located within the western regions of the United States. In the northwestern portion of its range, it can be found specifically in Oregon. Its distribution extends significantly into the southwestern United States across several states. It grows within the borders of Arizona, California, and Nevada. Finally, the species is also documented as occurring throughout Utah.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ephedra nevadenis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. Functionally, it exhibits a chamaphyte life form, meaning its photosynthetic buds are situated close to the soil surface, a structural adaptation that aids in survival within its specific ecological niche.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ephedra nevadensis is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning as a self-supporting shrub. It typically reaches an average plant height of 0.91 m, maintaining a structural independence as a non-parasitic, independent organism. This species is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, rather than aquatic or epiphytic, and does not exhibit climbing tendencies such as a liana or vine, instead relying on its own woody framework for support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.91 m

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

Reproduction in Ephedra nevadensis is characterized by specific morphological investment in its progeny, as evidenced by the quantitative metrics of its seed development. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a highly consistent mass profile, with a recorded mean seed mass of 0.025136 g. The data indicates an extremely narrow range of variation among the seeds, with both the maximum and minimum recorded seed mass values converging at 0.026402 g. This lack of variance suggests a highly standardized reproductive output, where each seed is produced with a uniform level of resource allocation, ensuring a predictable physical dimension for the dispersal and germination phases of its life cycle.

Seed mass max:

0.026402 g

Seed mass mean:

0.025136 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ephedra nevadensis has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CALCIUM, Ephedrine, Lucenin-2, PHOSPHORUS, Tannin.

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Ephedrine

1. Dr. Duke

Lucenin-2

1. Dr. Duke

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke

Tannin

1. Dr. Duke

Vicenin 2

1. Dr. Duke

resin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Ephedra nevadensis has 116 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include ACE-Inhibitor, Adrenergic, Allergenic, Anesthetic, Anthelmintic.

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenergic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiPMS

1. Dr. Duke

Antiallergic

1. Dr. Duke

Antianaphylactic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke