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]
| Clap-weed | |
|---|---|
Scientific 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
| |
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]
This plant is also rich in flavonoids,[6] which is used in a variety of nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.[7]
References
edit- ^ Flora of North America v 2
- ^ CONABIO. 2009. Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México. 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, Mexico D.F.
- ^ Watson, Sereno. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 18: 157. 1883.
- ^ Cutler, H. C. 1939. Monograph of the North American species of the genus Ephedra. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 26: 373--427.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Higgins, Maria (Dec 14, 2024). "What Are the Effects of Vine Tea Extract?". Stanford Chemicals. Retrieved Aug 1, 2024.
- ^ Mattila, Pirjo; Hellstrom, Jarkko (2016). "High variability in flavonoid contents and composition between different North-European currant (Ribes spp.) varieties". Food Chemistry. 204: 14–20. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.02.056.
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