Fauna
Plant

Joint-pine

Ephedra distachya

Also known as Sea Grape, Common Ephedra, European Ephedra, Somlatha

Joint-pines are low-growing, highly branched gymnosperm shrubs with slender, photosynthetic green stems that resemble horsetails. Tiny, scale-like leaves hug the nodes, conserving moisture in arid coastal sand dunes and rocky limestone slopes. Female plants produce bright red, berry-like fleshy cones that attract birds for seed dispersal across Mediterranean and Eurasian landscapes.

Dune SpecialistGymnospermMedicinal History
Joint-pine reference1 / 7
(c) Oleg Kosterin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Oleg Kosterin · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Birds
  • Small rodents
  • Grazing livestock
ThreatsCoastal development, trampling, dune habitat loss
HabitatsStable sand dunes, rocky hillsides, limestone slopes
Life span20–50 years
Classification
  1. FamilyEphedraceae
  2. SpeciesEphedra distachya
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains active ephedrine alkaloids that affect heart rate; do not handle or consume wild stems or cones.
Why it is dangerous
Contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine alkaloids that act as powerful cardiac and nervous system stimulants.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by green jointed stems and paired, bright red fleshy female cones in late summer.
What to do
Observe without touching or consuming any stems or cones, and keep pets away from the foliage.
Responsible observation
  • Identification: Look for bright green, jointed photosynthetic stems with tiny paired scale leaves at each node.
  • Observation: Search stable coastal sand dunes and sunny, rocky slopes across southern Europe.
  • Caution Note: Refrain from harvesting or consuming any part of the plant due to toxic ephedrine compounds.
Related species
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