Ephedra americana

Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.

American ephedra, Pinco-pinco

Ephedraceae Edible: Fruit 889 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A sprawling shrub. It normally grows 2.4 m high but can be a small tree 3.5 m high. The young shoots are green and finely ridged. The leaves are small and fall quickly. They are 6 mm long. The fruit are berries which are 12 mm long. They are red or orange.

Edible Uses

The fruit are eaten raw.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The plant is a diuretic and blood cleanser. A decoction or infusion of the branches and roots is used. Drunk as a tonic, possibly to help the kidneys. The stems of many members of this genus contain the alkaloid ephedrine and are of value in the treatment of asthma and many other complaints of the respiratory system. However, species from the Americas (such as this one) are said to be lacking this alkaloid.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant that grows in the Andes. It is frost hardy. They need light sandy or stony soil with good drainage. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.

Where It Grows

Andes, Argentina, Bolivia, Central America, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Peru, South America*,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed.

Propagation

Seed - Division. Layering.

Notes

There are about 40 Ephedra species. Also put in the family Gnetaceae.

Synonyms

Ephedra americana var. humboldtii StapfEphedra peruviana Berteri ex Carr.Ephedra andina Ephedra chilensis

Also Known As

Belcho, Canadillo, Canatilla, Chita mikuna, Cola de buey, Cola de caballo, Condorsara, Pingopingo

References (11)

Caveney et al., 2001, New observations on the secondary chemistry of world Ephedra (Ephedraceae), (American Journal of Botany. 88:1199-1208.)
Chamorro, M. F., & Ladio, A., 2020, Native and exotic plants with edible fleshy fruits utilized in Patagonia and their role as sources of local functional foods. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 20:155
Denkschr. Kaiserl. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 56(2):86. 1889
Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 281
Fouqué, A., 1972, Espèces fruitières d'Amérique tropicale. Institut français de recherches fruitierès outre-mer

Show all 11 references

Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 336
Leon-Lobos, P., et al, 2022, Patterns of Traditional and Modern Uses of Wild Edible Native Plants of Chile: Challenges and Future Perspectives. Plants (Basel) v 11 (6) Table S1
Thomas, E., et al, 2008, The Relationship Between Plant Use and Plant Diversity in the Bolivian Andes, with Special Reference to Medicinal Plant Use. Hum Ecol (2008) 36:861–879
Torre, de la L., et al, 2008, Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador. Herbario QCA. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. p 140
Thomas, E., et al, 2009, The relation between accessibility, diversity and indigenous valuation of vegetation in the Bolivian Andes. Journal of Arid Environments. 73:854-861
Young, J., (Ed.), 2001, Botanica's Pocket Trees and Shrubs. Random House. p 338