Ephedra distachya

Alatanzhula, Yue Xin, Zhao, Liqing, Gundegmaa, Vanjil, Yao, Zhenyu & Ri, Xu, 2025, A new Carex L. variety and ten new records from China and Mongolia, Adansonia (3) 47 (10), pp. 157-170 : 165

Ephedra distachya L.

( Fig. 6 A-C)

Species Plantarum 2: 1040 ( Linnaeus 1753). — Chaetocladus distachys (L.) J. Nelson, Pinaceae : 162 ( Nelson 1866).

TYPE MATERIAL. — Netherlands • Clifford George s.n.; lecto-, BM[ BM000647523 ] photo !

ETYMOLOGY. — This species adjective refers to the plant having pairs of spikes or clusters in its inflorescence.

PHENOLOGY. — Pollination from May to June, seed maturity July.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Europe to northern China, S. Russian far east and Mongolia; new record for Mongolia, occurring in Zavkhan province, Uvs Province, Khovd province, Umnugobi province. This species grows in grasslands, sandy places, rocky mountain slopes, below 900 m ( Fu et al. 1999; Zhao et al. 2019).

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Mongolia • Zavkhan, Tes Sum , sandy grassland; 11.VII.2017; L.Q. Zhao et al. M17-7276; HIMC[ HIMC0014658 ] ! • Uvs, Situlun Sum , sandy grassland; 12.VII.2017; L.Q. Zhao et al. M17-7278; HIMC[ HIMC0014659 ] ! • Khovd, Bouvet Sum , grassland; 26.VII.2017; L.Q. Zhao et al M17-7279; HIMC[ HIMC0014842 ] ! • South-east of Umnugobi, low hills of the Altai Mt. ; 9.VI.2013; L.Q. Zhao et al M13-6071; HIMC[ HIMC0011241 ] !

China • Inner Mongolia, Ulanqab, Siziwang Qi, Wulanhua Township , mountain ridge; 03.VII.1991; Y.Z. Zhao 1183; HIMC[ HIMC0002165 ] (photo!) .

TAXONOMIC NOTES

This species shows close morphological similarity to Ephedra sinica Stapf , yet it can be distinguished by several features: its branchlets are curved or twisted, in contrast to the straight branchlets of E. sinica , the apex of the free part of its leaf is obtuse or subacute, unlike the subulate to narrowly triangular apex found in E. sinica , and its seeds are lanceolate or nearly linear with a spiked apex, contrasting with the ovate seeds and non-pointed apex of E. sinica ( Fu et al. 1999; Zhao et al. 2019).