Green Mormon tea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green Mormon tea |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Ephedra viridis | |
 |
|
| Ephedra viridis: pollen cone | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ephedra
|
| Species: |
viridis
|
Ephedra viridis, also known as green Mormon tea or Indian tea, is a special type of plant called an Ephedra. You can find it growing naturally in the Western United States. It lives in many different places like scrublands, forests, and deserts, usually at high elevations between 900 and 2300 meters (about 3,000 to 7,500 feet).
Contents
What Does Green Ephedra Look Like?
The Ephedra viridis plant is a shrub that has a woody base. From this base, many bright green branches grow upwards in thick bunches. As the plant gets older, these branches might turn a bit yellowish.
Stems and Leaves
Along the branches, you'll see tiny pairs of leaves at the "nodes" (where new growth starts). These leaves begin as reddish but quickly dry out and turn brown or black. They are called "vestigial" leaves because they are no longer the main part of the plant that makes food.
Instead, the green stems of Ephedra viridis do the job of photosynthesis. This is the process where plants use sunlight to make their own food.
Reproduction: Cones and Seeds
Ephedra viridis plants have separate male and female plants.
- Male plants produce pollen cones. These are small, less than a centimeter long, and have yellowish parts called sporangiophores that stick out. These parts hold the pollen.
- Female plants produce seed cones. These are a little bigger than the pollen cones. Each seed cone usually holds two seeds.
How People Use Green Ephedra
The Ephedra viridis plant has been used for a long time, both in traditional medicine and in modern times.
Traditional Uses
Native Americans and people in ancient China used this plant for medicine. One of its common names, "green Mormon tea," comes from the fact that people would boil the stems to make a tea.
Modern Medicine Uses
A substance called ephedrine is made from Ephedra viridis and other Ephedra species. Ephedrine is used in some medicines.
In modern medicine, this plant is used to help treat sinus problems. These include common colds, hay fever, and sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses). Studies have shown it can be helpful for these conditions. It is also used to help with bronchial asthma, a condition that affects breathing.
