Gallery
Ephedra sinicaEphedra sinica
Ephedra sinica
Ephedra sinica
Ephedra sinica
Ephedra sinica seedsEphedra sinicaEphedra sinicaOverview
Ephedra sinica (also known as Chinese ephedra or ma huang) is a species of Ephedra in the plant family Ephedraceae. Native to Mongolia, northern China, and Russia, it is a shrub found on arid highland slopes, dry river beds, steppes, fields or mountain sides. sinica contains alkaloids, including ephedrine, which have been a basis for using the plant in traditional medicine for thousands of years.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
Due to concerns about alkaloid toxicity, ephedrine has been banned from the market in the European Union, United States, and many other countries.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productSeed & germination
The plant is propagated mainly by **seed**: sow fresh or pre-treated seed in loose, moist soil and keep it evenly damp; germination follows within a few weeks.
Seedling & growth
Seedlings establish, forming leaves and roots; growth rate depends on light and moisture.
Flowering
The plant blooms with **pale yellow reproductive cones, May–June**; pollination is by insects and wind.
Fruiting & harvest
After flowering the plant sets fruit and seed; **stems cut in autumn**.
Uses
- sinica contains alkaloids, including ephedrine, which have been a basis for using the plant in traditional medicine for thousands of years.
Habitat & conservation
Native to Mongolia, northern China, and Russia, it is a shrub found on arid highland slopes, dry river beds, steppes, fields or mountain sides.
Conservation
Ephedra sinica has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List (NE). As a medicinal plant, it benefits from sustainable collection and propagation to protect wild genetic resources.
References
- 1Wikipedia – Ephedra sinica — Wikipedia,
- 2Kew POWO – Ephedra sinica — Plants of the World Online (Kew),
- 3Wikidata – Q2602813 — Wikidata,