Chinese ephedra, Ephedra sinica, is a shrub of the phylum Gnetophyta native to arid regions of northern China and Mongolia, with slender, jointed, nearly leafless green stems adapted to dry conditions. Known in traditional Chinese medicine as ma huang, it has been used for thousands of years to treat respiratory ailments, and it is the natural source of the alkaloid ephedrine, a stimulant compound later isolated and developed into pharmaceutical decongestants and, controversially, weight-loss and performance supplements before many such uses were restricted.
Facts
Classification
Relationship to PeopleUsed in Traditional Medicine 1 Living or Extinct Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Plantae, Taxa Source Ephedra sinica (Wikidata)
In Biome
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Manchuria, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Mongolia, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: South Asia, found in there.
Sources
1. Ephedra sinica (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q2602813 (P225 taxon name)
- Wikidata P141 (IUCN conservation status) claim, entity QID Q2602813
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
- Child Taxon Of: Plantae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source 2. GBIF Species API
Chinese Ephedra (Wikipedia)
In Biome: Steppe, Wikipedia intro: "Mongolia, northern China, and Russia, it is a shrub found on arid highland slopes, dry river beds, steppes, fields or mountain sides. E. sinica contains alkaloi..."View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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