Ephedra is a medicinal preparation from the plant Ephedra sinica. Several additional species belonging to the genus Ephedra have traditionally been used for a variety of medicinal purposes, and are a possible candidate for the Soma plant of Indo-Iranian religion. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years. Native Americans and Mormon pioneers drank a tea brewed from other Ephedra species, called "Mormon tea" and "Indian tea".
Scandent, perennial herb shrub. 3m height.
Branches – branchlets held stiffy erect in males and branches are bright green 2-2.5m, bracts are browns.
Flowers – yellow with yellow cones.
Strobili - yellow.
Altitude – up to 3800m.
Associated with cacti species on dry rocky slopes and hills.