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| 1 |
Bracts of seed cones almost completely free, connate only at base, light brown and membranous at maturity |
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1 Ephedra przewalskii |
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Bracts of seed cones usually connate for 1/3-5/6 their length, red and fleshy at maturity. |
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(2) |
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| 2 (1) |
Seeds prominently longitudinally ridged, with dense, tiny projections |
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3 Ephedra rhytidosperma |
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Seeds smooth, rarely finely longitudinally striate. |
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(3) |
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| 3 (2) |
Integument tube 3-5 mm, usually spirally twisted |
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2 Ephedra intermedia |
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Integument tube 1-2(-2.5) mm, straight, curved, or slightly twisted. |
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(4) |
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| 4 (3) |
Shrubs or subshrubs, usually 50-150 cm. |
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(5) |
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Shrubs or subshrubs not more than 40 cm. |
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(8) |
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| 5 (4) |
Bracts of seed cones with margin broad, membranous, often erose; integument tube ca. 1.5 mm, slightly spirally twisted; seeds 2 or 3; subshrubs usually to 50 cm |
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4 Ephedra lomatolepis |
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Bracts of seed cones with margin narrower, entire or almost so; integument tube 1-2 mm, straight or slightly curved; seeds 1 or 2; shrubs or subshrubs often more than 50 cm. |
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(6) |
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| 6 (5) |
Apical pair of bracts of seed cones connate for 3/4-8/9 their length; seeds finely striate dorsally |
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9 Ephedra likiangensis |
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Apical pair of bracts of seed cones connate for 1/2-2/3 their length; seeds completely smooth. |
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(7) |
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| 7 (6) |
Herbaceous branches virgate, often pruinose, 1-1.5 mm in diam., rigid; integument tube to 2 mm, straight or slightly curved; plants to 100 cm or more |
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10 Ephedra equisetina |
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Herbaceous branches not virgate, never pruinose, 1.5-2.5(-3) mm in diam., stout; integument tube ca. 0.5 mm, straight; plants to 60 cm |
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5 Ephedra saxatilis |
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| 8 (4) |
Plants (15-)20-60 cm. |
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(9) |
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Plants 5-15 cm. |
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(11) |
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| 9 (8) |
Integument tube ca. 0.5 mm, straight; bracts of seed cones in 2 or 3 pairs |
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5 Ephedra saxatilis |
| + |
Integument tube 1-2 mm, straight or slightly curved; bracts of seed cones in 4 pairs. |
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(10) |
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| 10 (10) |
Free part of leaves subulate to narrowly triangular, to 5 mm, apex sharply pointed 7 E. sinica |
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(10) |
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Free part of leaves triangular, shorter, apex obtuse or subacute |
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8 Ephedra distachya |
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| 11 (8) |
Integument tube 1.5-2 mm, twisted, curved, or straight often in same plant; bracts of pollen cones in 2 or 3(?or 4) pairs |
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11 Ephedra monosperma |
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Integument tube to 1 mm, straight; bracts of pollen cones in 1-4 or more pairs. |
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(12) |
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| 12 (11) |
Bracts of pollen cones in 1 or 2 pairs; apical bracts of seed cones much longer than others; seeds 6-8(-10) mm, apex acuminate |
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13 Ephedra minuta |
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Bracts of pollen cones in (2 or)3-6 pairs; apical bracts of seed cones slightly longer than others; seeds shorter, apex acute or obtuse. |
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(13) |
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| 13 (12) |
Apical pair of bracts of seed cones connate for ca. 5/6 their length or more; seeds 3.5-4.5 mm |
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6 Ephedra regeliana |
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Apical pair of bracts of seed cones connate for ca. 3/4 their length at most; seeds 4-6 mm. |
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(14) |
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| 14 (13) |
Internodes of green branchlets 1-2 cm, smooth or nearly so; seeds 4-5 mm, apex acute; pollen cones with 4-6 pairs of bracts |
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14 Ephedra fedtschenkoae |
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Internodes of green branchlets 1-1.5(-2) cm, longitudinally furrowed, often scabridulous; seeds 4-6 mm, apex obtuse or subacuminate; pollen cones with 3 or 4(-6) pairs of bracts |
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12 Ephedra gerardiana |
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