Clipweed vs Gray Ephedra

Ephedra antisyphilitica compared with Ephedra nevadensis

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Clipweed	Gray Ephedra
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Tracheophyta	Tracheophyta
Class same	Gnetopsida (Gnetopsida)	Gnetopsida (Gnetopsida)
Order same	Ephedrales (Ephedrales)	Ephedrales (Ephedrales)
Family same	Ephedraceae	Ephedraceae
Genus same	Ephedra	Ephedra
Species	Ephedra antisyphilitica	Ephedra nevadensis

Evolutionary Relationship

Clipweed and Gray Ephedra share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Ephedra.

Conservation Status

Clipweed

LC — Least Concern

Gray Ephedra

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Clipweed	Gray Ephedra
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Clipweed

Clipweed (Ephedra antisyphilitica) is a leafless, photosynthetic shrub in the ancient gymnosperm family Ephedraceae, belonging to one of the oldest lineages of seed plants. Native to the arid and semi-arid regions of Texas, New Mexico, and northern Mexico, it grows on rocky slopes, desert grasslands, dry scrublands, and limestone outcrops at low to moderate elevations. The plant consists of jointed, broom-like green stems that perform photosynthesis in the absence of true leaves, which are reduced to small, papery scales at the nodes. Like other ephedras, clipweed produces alkaloids including ephedrine, historically used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments and reportedly as a remedy for syphilis, hence its species epithet. Male and female strobili are borne on separate plants. The species is wind-pollinated and produces small, fleshy red seed cones. Clipweed is categorized as Least Concern given its relatively wide distribution across suitable Chihuahuan Desert habitats and its tolerance of poor, rocky soils that limit competition from other vegetation.