Ephedra somalensis

Freitag & Maier-St. 2003

Common names

Taxonomic notes

Description

Dioecious erect shrubs with broom-like branching, up to 2 m tall, with dark brown pith. Twigs usually densely clustered, striate, rough. Leaves paired, 1–2 mm long, united for 1/2–2/3, the sheaths scarious, usually wider than long, papillose. Female cones short-pedunculate, 1-flowered. Male cones sessile, 3–4 mm long with 6–8 anthers. Flowering in March (Bell and Bachman 2011; Thulin et al. 2008 [Flora of Somalia] as cited by Plants of the World Online, accessed 2021.12.25).

Distribution and Ecology

Eritrea and Somalia, at elevations of 1200 to 2700 m in xerophytic evergreen afromontane forests and bushlands on soils derived from gnieiss, schist and limestone. Commonly associated species include Buxus hildebrandtii, Dracaena ombet, Monetheca buxifolia, Euryops arabicus, Teucrium polium, Olea sp., Juniperus procera, Tarchonanthus sp., Cadia sp., Pistacia aethiopica and Dodonaea viscosa (Bell and Bachman 2011).

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2023.03.03.

Ethnobotany

Observations

See the observations on iNaturalist, accessed 2021.12.31.

Remarks

Citations

Bell, A. and S. Bachman. 2011. Ephedra somalensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T201676A9162281. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T201676A9162281.en, accessed 2021.12.25.

Freitag, H. and M. Maier-Stolte. 2003. The Genus Ephedra in NE Tropical Africa. Kew Bulletin 58:417.

See also

Species profile at Plants of the World Online, accessed 2021.12.31.