Ephedra nebrodensis

Tineo ex Guss. (1844)

Common names

Timitrte (in Morocco).

Taxonomic notes

Synonymy: See POWO; also, this species has been synonymized with Ephedra equisetina and (most commonly) with E. major (which, however, is now synonymized with E. foeminea); E. procera has also been treated as one of its subspecies. Infraspecific taxa, previously described, are no longer recognized.

Description

Shrubs up to 1 m tall, very branched, more or less fastigiate. Twigs 0.4-0.7 mm diameter, rough, not disjointed. Leaves up to 3 mm long, membranous, the older ones dark brown. Pollen cones in 2-4 pairs, sessile, in globose groups, 2-4 mm in diameter. Seed cones with 1 rudimentary seed, short-stalked, generally with 2 pair of bracts; micropylar tube ca. 3 mm long. Ripe fruits 3-7 × 3 mm, ovoid, reddish or yellowish. 2n = 14 (do Amaral 1986; see also illustration at right).

It differs from E. major in the reddish or blackish-brown pith of older twigs, in having pollen cones with 2–4 pairs of bracts, and seed cones with 1 pair (Maggi et al. 2010, citing Christensen 1997).

Distribution and Ecology

Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy (incl. Sardinia and Sicily), Greece, Lebanon, Mauritania, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Canary Is.), Syria, Tunisia, Turkey (POWO 2025). Distributed on Mediterranean mountains, on xeric calcareous or gypsum rocky areas at up to 1700 m elevation (do Amaral Franco 1986).

The IUCN has not assessed the conservation status of this species, however in view of its very large range with many discrete populations, it would likely be of "Least Concern".

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2025.01.15.

Ethnobotany

As with most species of Ephedra, it contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. In Morocco, where E. nebdrodensis occurs in the Atlas Mountains, a leaf decoction is used in traditional medicine as an antidiabetic. In modern studies, foliage extracts have shown antioxidant, analgesic, and hypotensive effects, as well as antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities; a variety of further pharmacologic effects are now known (Chroho et al. 2024).

Observations

It is reported from Pollino National Park in Italy.

Remarks

The epithet refers to the Nebrodi Mountains of Sicily.

Citations

do Amaral, Franco J. 1986. Ephedra L. Pp. 192-195 in: Castroviejo S, Laínz M, López Gónzales G, Montserrat P, Muñoz Garmendia F, Paiva J, and Villar L. (eds.) Flora Iberica V.1. Real Jardín Botánico. C.S.I.C. Madrid. Available: Real Jardín Botánico, accessed 2025.01.15.

Christensen, K. I. 1997. Ephedra L., pp. 15-17 in A. Strid and K. Tan (eds.), Flora Hellenica, Vol. I. Königstein, Germany: Koeltz Scientiic Books.

Chroho, Mounia, Christian Bailly, and Latifa Bouissane. 2024. Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Moroccan Ephedra Species. Planta Medica 90:336–352.

Gussone, Joanne. 1844. Florae Siculae Synopsis Neapoli: Tramater. V.2, p.638. Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2025.01.15.

Maggi, Filippo, Domenico Lucarini, Bruno Tirillini, Sauro Vittori, Gianni Sagratini, and Fabrizio Papa. 2010. Essential oil composition of Ephedra nebrodensis Tineo ex Guss. subsp. nebrodensis from central Italy. Journal of Essential Oil Research 22(4):354-357.

Orsomando, E. 1969. Areale italiano di Ephedra nebrodensis Host. Mitt. ostalp.-din., planzensoz. Arbeitsgem. 9: 341348.

See also

Caruso, Giuseppe, Dimitar Uzunov, Carmen Gangale, and Lia Pignotti. 2012. Distribution of the genus Ephedra L. in Calabria (S Italy). Botanica Serbica 36(1):15-21.