Ephedra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ephedra |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Ephedra nevadensis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Division: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: |
Ephedrales
|
| Family: |
Ephedraceae
|
| Genus: |
Ephedra
L.
|
Ephedra is a special group of plants. It is the only group in its plant family, called Ephedraceae. These plants are found all over the world. You can find them in places like southwestern North America, southern Europe, and northern Africa. They also grow in parts of Asia and South America.
Contents
About Ephedra Plants
Ephedra plants often grow in places with a mild climate, known as the temperate zone. They like sunny spots, especially on shores or in sandy areas.
Different Names for Ephedra
In English, people often call these plants by fun names. Some common names are joint-pine, jointfir, and Mormon-tea. In Chinese, this plant is known as mahuang (simplified Chinese: 麻黄; traditional Chinese: 麻黃; pinyin: máhuáng; Wade–Giles: ma-huang; literally "hemp yellow").
Traditional Uses of Ephedra
For a very long time, some types of Ephedra have been used in medicine. For example, Ephedra sinica has been part of traditional medicine practices. People have used it for different health reasons.
Images for kids
-
Bottle of ephedrine, a natural substance found in ephedra plants
-
Mormon tea (Ephedra funerea) growing in the wild in Arches National Park
