Plant · GBIF taxon 2653308
Desert Ephedra
Ephedra triandraAlso known as Pingopingo, South American Ephedra, Joint-fir
Desert Ephedra anchors fragile arid soils across dry South American valleys and rocky slopes with dense clusters of photosynthetic green stems. These primitive gymnosperms rely heavily on wind pollination while producing fleshy, colorful seed cones that attract local birds for dispersal. Highly adapted to severe drought, the plant reduces its leaves to tiny scale-like sheaths at the stem nodes to minimize water loss.
Drought-TolerantShrubGymnosperm
Licensed reference(c) Benjamin Bender, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic
Predators
- Livestock
- Native rodents
- Insects
ThreatsAgricultural expansion, habitat degradation, overgrazing
HabitatsArid scrublands, dry valleys, rocky slopes
Life span20–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyEphedraceae
- SpeciesEphedra triandra
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains stimulant alkaloids that affect heart rate; wild plants carry misidentification risks and should never be ingested.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains ephedrine-type alkaloids that stimulate the central nervous system and can trigger dangerous cardiovascular effects.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by its dense clusters of ribbed, photosynthetic green jointed stems with tiny scale-like leaf sheaths.
- What to do
- Observe and photograph the plant without picking branches or consuming any fleshy seed cones.
Responsible observation
- Visual Cues: Examine the jointed, broom-like stems and small translucent scale leaves at each node.
- Habitat Spotting: Search dry, exposed slopes and desert scrub ecosystems across southern South America.
Close Relative Close Relative 
Close Relative (c) Oleg Kosterin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Oleg Kosterin · cc-by
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