{{Short description|Species of seed-bearing shrub}} {{Speciesbox | image = Ephedra altissima — Leonora Enking 001.jpg | image_caption = | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{cite iucn |author=Bell, A. |author2=Bachman, S. |date=2011 |title=''Ephedra altissima'' |volume=2011 |article-number=e.T201672A9161344 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T201672A9161344.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Ephedra | species = altissima | authority = Desf. | synonyms_ref = <ref name=thedabara/> | synonyms = ''Chaetocladus altissima'' <small>(Desf.) J.Nelson</small><br/> ''Ephedra altissima'' <small>Desf.</small> ssp. ''algerica'' <small>Stapf</small><br/> ''Ephedra altissima'' <small>Desf.</small> ssp. ''mauritanica'' <small>Stapf</small><br/> ''Ephedra altissima'' <small>Desf.</small> ssp. ''scabra'' <small>Trab.</small><br/> ''Ephedra altissima'' <small>Desf.</small> ssp. ''tripolitana'' <small>Pamp.</small><br/> ''Ephedra altissima'' <small>Desf.</small> ssp. ''nana'' <small>Ball</small><br/> ''Chaetocladus altissima'' <small>(Desf.) J.Nelson</small><br/> ''Ephedra wettsteinii'' <small>Buxb.</small> }}
'''''Ephedra altissima''''' is a species of ''Ephedra'' that is native to the western Sahara (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Chad, Mauritania), and also to the Canary Islands.<ref name=thedabara>[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=332855 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]</ref><ref>Barry, J. P. & Celles, J.S. (1991). Flore de Mauritanie 2: 360-550. Centre Regional de Documentation Pedagogique, Nice.</ref><ref>Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. (2011). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 3: 1-449. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.</ref>
The species is cultivated as an ornamental plant and medicinal plant.
== Habitat == This plant is located in Algeria, Chad, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, and the western Sahara. It can be viewed at elevations between 10 meters to 700 meters above sea level.<ref name="iucn"/>
== Characteristics == This plant is described as a green, dioecious shrub. Each flower is either male or female needing two different for seed formation. It prefers well drained, loamy soil in an area with direct sunlight. Once established the plant is hardy, resistant to drought and lime.<ref name="Ephedra altissima - Desf">{{Cite web|url=https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ephedra+altissima|title=Ephedra altissima - Desf.|last=|first=|date=|website=pfaf.org}}</ref> The leaves bud in an opposite fashion with the plant being green all year. A shrub often found on rocky calcareous slopes. Flowering time is between February–May. Fruiting time is between April–May. The ripe female cone is eaten by animals.
==Taxonomy== It was originally described by René Louiche Desfontaines in 1799 and placed in section ''Pseudobaccatae'' (=sect. ''Ephedra''), "tribe" ''Scandentes''. This being due to the similarity in stem and leaf structure and organization.
In 1996 Robert A. Price classified ''E. altissima'' in section ''Ephedra'' without recognizing a tribe.<ref name="Price 1996">Price, R. A. (1996). Systematics of the Gnetales: A review of morphological and molecular evidence. ''International Journal of Plant Sciences'', 157(6): S40-S49.</ref>
== Threat == As a result of the plant having such a widespread location, there are no specific major threats. This plant was last assessed by IUCN on August 13, 2010, with a least concerned rating. Due to the non-concerned attitude toward the endangerment of the species, no seeds have been collected as an ex situ conservation measure. It is not known to occur in any protected areas.<ref name="iucn"/>
== Medicinal uses == The members of this genus have alkaloid ephedrine which are integral in the treatment of asthma and other related respiratory issues. By using the entire plant and not just the stem it has been observed, as compared to isolated ephedrine, to have few side effects. This is used to treat symptoms not cure respiratory issues. Young plants have the best potency if ingested raw while older plants are best to be dried and used in a tea.<ref name="Ephedra altissima - Desf"/>
==Varieties== #''Ephedra altissima'' var. ''altissima'' - Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Canary Islands #''Ephedra altissima'' var. ''tibestica'' <small>Maire</small> - Tibesti Mountains of northern Chad
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{commons category-inline|Ephedra altissima}} *[http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ephedra+altissima PFAF Plant Database — ''Ephedra altissima'']
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5382138}}
altissima Category:Flora of the Canary Islands Category:Flora of North Africa Category:Plants described in 1799 Category:Garden plants of Africa Category:Tibesti Mountains Category:Taxa named by René Louiche Desfontaines