What is horsetail ephedra? What does this plant look like, where does it grow and what is it used for? You will find answers to all these questions in the materials of the presented article.
basic information
Horsetail ephedra is a special type of shrubbery belonging to the genus Ephedra and the family Ephedra, or Ephedra. It should be noted that this plant has other names: horsetail, ephedra mountain.
Horsetail Ephedra: A Botanical Description
As mentioned above, the plant in question is a perennial and densely branched shrub, the height of which can reach 1-1.5 meters. Its root is rather thick, branched and long. The stem of this plant is single (may be among several). It is also thick, woody, branched and gray from the base.
Twigs of the mentioned bush are directed upwards. They are straight, jointed, with internodes up to 2 cm, smooth, protruding, with a diameter of up to 1.5-2 mm, green, and also thinly grooved.
Horsetail ephedra has scaly and opposite leaves that are fused at the base. Above, they are short-triangular, devoid of chlorophyll and reduced to the vagina. Chloroplasts are found only in the cells of the bark of non-lignified and young stems.
Male spikelets of this plant are single or among two or three. They reach a length of 4-5 mm. Such leaves are crowded and located along the branches.
The outer bracts of the bush under consideration are round-oval in shape. They are blunt, thin. Anthers, including six to eight pieces, are very rare and almost sedentary.
Female spikelets of this plant are located in exactly the same way as anther ones, that is, on legs 1-2 mm long. Horsetail ephedra has 2-3 pairs of bracts. Below they are wide-oval in shape, and along the edge - narrow-membranous. They are pollinated by the wind.
Does horsetail fruit produce ephedra? Photos of the berries of this plant can be seen in this article. They have a red or orange color. Also, the fruits of the bush under consideration are fleshy, spherical-elongated and single-seeded. Their seeds are rounded, 4-6 mm long and convex on both sides.
When does Ephedra horsetail grass bloom? A photo of this shrub is presented above. Its flowering occurs in May-June. The seeds of the mentioned plant reach their full ripeness only in July, and the pineal-shaped berries fall in September.
Horsetail ephedra where grows?
In Russia, this shrub can be found in the Volga regions, as well as in the southeast of the European part. Also, the plant in question is common in the Caucasus, in the mountains of Central Asia, Western Siberia, Eastern Tien Shan, Mongolia and China.
In what areas does ephedra horsetail live? Where does this shrub grow? Such a plant is typical of mountainous areas. It can be found in the mountain-steppe, mountain-forest and subalpine zones.
Most often, the considered shrub grows on gravel screes, rocky areas and crevices of rocks, including at an altitude of 1000-1700 meters above sea level. In such places, the plant takes root due to its powerful root system.
Horsetail ephedra forms not very dense, but rather extensive thickets. It is very demanding on light, and also able to reproduce vegetatively, by dividing the bushes.
Use in decorative gardening
Why is horsetail ephedra necessary? Planting and care of this plant require special attention. After all, its decorative appearance depends on this.
According to the claims of botanists, such a shrub is used for:
- landscape design;
- imitation of wild massifs and thickets;
- landscaping and decoration of rock gardens and rockeries;
- creating borders in front of stony gardens;
- imitations of snowstorms and waves in a decorative composition ;
- as a textural accent in modern design;
- filling the soil and creating a background texture plant.
Unfortunately, the use of ephedra is limited, as it contains narcotic substances. The cultivation and distribution of such shrubs is prohibited by law. However, these norms do not apply to single ornamental plants, since the ephedrine of such types of herbs is not used in landscape design.
Growing conditions
All species of the considered shrub are accustomed to a dry climate, as well as steppe, rocky and desert soil. Therefore, they can be settled even on poor soils.
When decorating your garden, the conifer should be given a sunny place. It should be noted that such plants are well reconciled with drafts, not capricious to polluted air and are not afraid of winds.
The soil for ephedra horsetail needs special. As you know, she likes well-drained and dry alkaline soils.
Overmoistening of such a shrub is detrimental, including in the winter season. Low-growing conifers feel good in crevices of rock arias and stones, as well as in stony soil. If a plant needs to be planted in flower beds or ordinary soil, then powerful and high-quality drainage must be laid in the planting pits.
Planting a plant
A place for planting such a shrub should be prepared in advance. The soil is deeply dug and mixed with sand in order to improve its water permeability.
The soil of an acidic reaction or a neutral medium must be lime. Also, a high drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the landing pits.
Horsetail ephedra takes root well in spring and autumn. However, the most optimal periods for its landing are:
- mid April-May;
- mid August-September.
Shrub planting occurs in a standard way. The main thing in this case is not to deepen the root neck. Watering the plants after planting is mandatory. Water is distributed around the entire perimeter of the landing pit. In the future, watering the ephedra is carried out only with drought.
Shrub care
Horsetail ephedra is a persistent and hardy plant. Caring for it comes down to maintaining the drainage of the soil and its ability to pass fluid.
Watering such shrubs are not needed. If there is extreme heat, then supporting hydration will contribute to the formation of beautiful berries.
Fertilizing such conifers is not required, except when they grow in poor rocky soil.
The main point for the care of ephedra is loosening the soil. Do it in the early spring and autumn.
Chemical composition and economic importance
Absolutely all parts of the bush under consideration contain pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. The shoots of this plant include up to 11% tannins. They can be used to obtain tannin extracts.
In Central Asia and Kazakhstan, ashes of horsetail ephedra are sometimes added to chewing tobacco.
Medical use
Ephedrine is a substance that has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system and heart. It also inhibits intestinal motility, causes vasoconstriction, increases blood pressure, stimulates the respiratory center and expands the bronchi.
This element differs from adrenaline in that the effect of its use develops gradually, but it has a longer effect.
Preparations based on this plant are used to reduce vasoconstriction in rhinitis and inflammation, and as a means to increase blood pressure during operations, infectious diseases, narcolepsy, myasthenia gravis, trauma, poisoning with sleeping pills and narcotic drugs. In addition, ephedrine is actively used in ophthalmic practice to dilate the pupils during diagnosis.
Side effects
If you take ephedrine improperly, it has pronounced side effects that manifest in the form of nausea, dizziness, slight tremors, vomiting, precardial pain, palpitations, fear of death, hypertension, insomnia, nervous excitement, urinary retention and hyperhidrosis, as well as headache and skin rash.