Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C. A. Mey.

In the specimens studied, there seems to be no substantial difference between the glauca (Regal) Stapf and var. tibetica Stapf. The former, confined to Baluchis­tan, is said to differ in the more numerous and rigid branches. F7. Per.: May.

The character states distinguishing var. glauca and var. tibetica from typical Ephedra intermedia may all be observed together in a single population; the species is therefore not divided here.

This species has medicinal properties.

Shrubby plant up to 50 cm tall, branches usually many, erect to spreading, striate, minutely tuberculate, internodes straight or slightly bent. Male strobili up to 8, whorled; bracts obovate, connate; staminate column slightly exserted.Female strobili paired or in whorls. Tubillus exserted, slightly bent. Berry ovoid, red. Seeds ± 6 mm long, brownish.

Subshrubs or shrubs to 1 m, densely branched, sometimes with creeping stem producing single, erect, green primary branches; branchlets yellowish or bluish green, often pruinose, internodes usually 2-6 cm × 1.5-3.5 mm. Leaves in whorls of 3 or opposite, connate for at least 2/3 their length. Pollen cones usually clustered at nodes, often sessile; bracts in 3 or 4 pairs or whorls; anthers 5-8, sessile or shortly stipitate. Seed cones ellipsoid, ovoid, or oblong-ovoid; bracts in 2-5 pairs or whorls, outer ones connate at base, apical pair or whorl connate for ca. 1/2 their length, margins membranous, globose, red, and fleshy at maturity; integument tube long, 3-5 mm, usually spirally twisted. Seeds 2 or 3, ovoid or elongate-ovoid, 5-6 × ca. 3 mm, concealed by bracts. Pollination May-Jun, seed maturity Jul-Aug. 2n = 14*, 28*.

Distribution: C. Asia, W. Siberia, Afghanistan eastward to Kashmir & Tibet.

Gansu, Hebei, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Xinjiang, Xizang [Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; SW Asia]

Grasslands, deserts, river valleys, floodlands, sandy beaches, cliffs, other dry, sandy or rocky places; (100-)800-4600 m.

Ephedra ferganensis V. Nikitin; E. glauca Regel; E. intermedia var. glauca (Regel) Stapf; E. intermedia var. persica Stapf; E. intermedia var. schrenkii Stapf; E. intermedia var. tibetica Stapf; E. microsperma V. Nikitin; E. persica (Stapf) V. Nikitin; E. tesquorum V. Nikitin; E. tibetica (Stapf) V. Nikitin; E. valida V. Nikitin.