Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey., Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg, Sér. 6, Sci. Math., Seconde Pt. Sci. Nat. 7(2): 278 1846. (Syn: Ephedra ferganensis V.A.Nikitin; Ephedra intermedia var. persica Stapf; Ephedra intermedia var. schrenkii Stapf; Ephedra intermedia var. tibetica Stapf; Ephedra microsperma V.A.Nikitin; Ephedra persica (Stapf) V.A.Nikitin; Ephedra tesquorum V.A.Nikitin; Ephedra tibetica (Stapf) V.A.Nikitin; Ephedra valida V.A.Nikitin; Ephedra vulgaris var. submonostachys Boiss. & Buhse);
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The character states distinguishing Ephedra var. glauca and E. var. tibetica from typical E. intermedia may all be observed together in a single population; the species is therefore not divided here (Fu et al. 2010) as it is in The World Checklist of Selected Families (RBG Kew 2009). Ephedra intermedia is found in deserts, grasslands, floodlands and river valleys, slopes and cliffs, and sandy beaches. It grows at elevations of 100–4,600 metres (330–15,100 ft), in rocky or sandy dry habitats. Ephedra intermedia vs Ephedra gerardiana:
Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. ??? : 3 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (3)
Sharing some pictures I guess is a Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. shot at Leh on 22 August 2016.
I don’t think it matches with Ephedra gerardiana Ephedra identification is often challenging- especially as most of the specimens encountered have no flowers or fruit. The joint-pines are adapted to the low-rainfall of Tibetan borderlands. The leaves are reduced to scales on the stems (helping reduce the loss of water through transpiration), which are green for photosynthesis. E.geradiana is understood to be the common, widespread species along the Himalaya (or more accurately, along the borderlands of Tibet). I agree that the images do not match E.geradiana.
3 species are recorded from Ladakh: E.geradiana, E.intermedia and E.regelii according to Dickore & Klimes. Stewart records all three.
As for E.pachyclada, he states that Riedl. does not report this from Pakistan or Kashmir. However, Kitamura reported it from the Chaman Pass on the Baluchistan-Afghan border. Boiss. reported it from “W.Tibet”, probably Ladakh.
I consider the range of the species is poorly known. ‘
Fortunately, I have a much better (but far from perfect) idea about the three main species in Ladakh than I did just a few months ago but still consider myself a novice with Ephedras. The images are not of E.regelii. I currently think they most likely are within E.intermedia but will consider E.pachyclada. Can anyone say with confidence which species and how one differentiates between E.intermedia and E.pachyclada?
efloraofPakistan for Ephedra:
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=111784 But how reliable is this key? Cannot make out any wart-like projections on the stems in the close-up image but cannot see the characteristics describe for E.pachyclada either….. Comparing the images from the book from Flora of Ladakh I guess it matches more with Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey. Some more images from net for verification !
Attachments (3)
Attachments (1) Ok. I just noticed this has been listed in efi site.
Ephedra intermedia Schrenk& C.A.Mey.
Family: Ephedraceae
Hunder, Nubra valley, Laddakh, J&K, India. 9 June 2018
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Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey. ??
I feel it may be Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey. as per differences at Ephedra intermedia vs Ephedra gerardiana and as per POWO and GBIF specimens unlike those of Ephedra gerardiana at POWO and GBIF specimens.
8 images- 3 high res. Very useful medicinal plant. Many species of Ephedra are source of Ephedrine. Ephedra gerardiana from Ladakh: Yes .. I feel it may be Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey. as per differences at Ephedra intermedia vs Ephedra gerardiana and as per POWO and GBIF specimens unlike those of Ephedra gerardiana at POWO and GBIF specimens. Ephedra gerardiana ?? — at Nubra Valley– Ladakh- July-PKA-29 : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (3)
I think this one is Ephedra gerardiana ??
Family: Ephedraceae, Location: Nubra Valley, Ladakh I think matches with images at Ephedra gerardiana I feel it may be Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey. as per differences at Ephedra intermedia vs Ephedra gerardiana and as per POWO and GBIF specimens unlike those of Ephedra gerardiana at POWO and GBIF specimens. Ephedra gerardiana Wall. ex Stapf : 4 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (4)
Location: Godawari, Nepal
Altitude: 5000 ft.
Date: 10 January 2017
Nepali Names : कागचरो Kaagacharo / पुर्पुर्य Purpurya / सोमलता Somalataa Can it be Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey. as per differences at Ephedra intermedia vs Ephedra gerardiana and as per POWO and GBIF specimens unlike those of Ephedra gerardiana at POWO and GBIF specimens? Yes, it should be E. intermedia Schrenk et Mey. It is widely distributed between 1000 – 5500m asl.
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() SK 3014 04 October 2021: 6 very high res. images. Location: Jumla, West Nepal Altitude: 2327m. Date: 17 August 2021 Habit : Wild Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey. ?? ?? Can be Ephedra gerardiana Wall. ex Stapf or Ephedra gerardiana var. sikkimensis Stapf also. Looks good ! From the growth habit, size and habitat the specimens from Surkhet look like E. intermedia to me. .
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Ephedra gerardiana Wall. ex Klotzsch & Garcke How different would this be from E. intermedia? https://efloraofindia.com/species/a—l/e/ephedraceae/ephedra/ephedra-intermedia ! What amazing pictures! Thanks for posting the habit photo as well. You can check detailed differences at the link provided by … I also think close to images at Ephedra intermedia One of the differences mentioned is that the female strobili are solitary in E. gerardiana and paired or in whorls in E. intermedia.
Considering this, both my uploads, this one and the other one seem to be E. intermedia. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ladakh, August 2022 :: Ephedra for ID :: ARK2022-156: 4 high res. images. This was on the banks of the Shyok river en route Pangong lake at Ladakh in August 2022.
Requested to please ID the Ephedra species. I think Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey. Yes … ! I again saw this on the banks of the Pangong tso, will post that tomorrow.
Not sure whether that is E. gerardiana. I think Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey. only. .
Ephedra gerardiana Wall. ex Klotzsch & Garcke: 8 high res. images.
Location: Dhorpatan, Baglung, Nepal
Date: 31May 2023
Elevation: 2900 m.
Habit : Wild Why not Not sure. However, this sp. was listed in the book about Dhoratan ! Maybe … can help in its correct identification. |