Ephedrales

gnetophyte order

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

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The Ephedrales are an order of gymnospermous vascular plants, consisting of a single genus, Ephedra, with about 65 species. These plants are typically shrubs found in dry regions across both hemispheres. They are characterized by green stems that perform photosynthesis, as their leaves are reduced to small scales.12

Some species, like Ephedra sinica (ma huang), have been historically used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine as a source of ephedrine, a compound now largely synthesized. North American species are known as joint firs or Mormon tea, with stem preparations used as a beverage. The Ephedrales are evolutionarily distinct and represent the only genus within the division Gnetophyta.12

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gnetophyte
Annotated classification
Order Ephedrales Shrubs to small trees; small leaves with 2 or 3 veins; mature cones often become fleshy and brightly coloured; 1 family, Ephedraceae; 1 genus, Ephedra, with 65 species. Order Gnetales Mostly vines, but a few trees; large flat leaves that have reticulate venation; seeds
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Order Ephedrales Shrubs to small trees; small leaves with 2 or 3 veins; mature cones often become fleshy and brightly coloured; 1 family, Ephedraceae; 1 genus, Ephedra, with 65 species. Order Gnetales Mostly vines, but a few trees; large flat leaves that have reticulate venation; seeds
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ephedra
…only genus in the order Ephedrales (division Gnetophyta). Species are distributed in dry regions in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres. In the Western Hemisphere, Ephedra occurs in desert areas in the southwestern United States, in parts of Mexico, and in a wide area in South America.
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…only genus in the order Ephedrales (division Gnetophyta). Species are distributed in dry regions in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres. In the Western Hemisphere, Ephedra occurs in desert areas in the southwestern United States, in parts of Mexico, and in a wide area in South America.
Read More