Ephedra pedunculata, common name vine Mormon tea or Comida de Vívora, is a plant species native to southern Texas and to Mexico as far south as Zacatecas. It grows in sandy or rocky slopes and outcrops.[1][2]
Most species of Ephedra (called "Mormon tea") are shrubs, but Ephedra pedunculata is a trailing or clambering woody vine up to 7 m (23 ft) long. Bark is gray, becoming cracked with age. Leaves are opposite, up to 3 mm (0.12 in) long. Microsporangial (pollen-producing cones) are 1–2 mm long, compared to less than 1 mm in many other species. Seed cones are 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long, each containing 2 ellipsoid seeds 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long.[3][4][5]
This plant is also rich in flavonoids,[6] which is used in a variety of nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.[7]
^Mattila, Pirjo; Hellstrom, Jarkko (2016). "High variability in flavonoid contents and composition between different North-European currant (Ribes spp.) varieties". Food Chemistry. 204: 14–20. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.02.056.
