Ephedra fragilis Desf.

Spice Female flower Male flower In the field 1 In the field 2

Family: EPHEDRACEAE

Genus: Ephedra

Catalan common name: Candelers. Ginesta borda. Trompera. Trompera fràgil.

Spanish common name: Belcho. Canadillo. Hierba de las coyunturas. Trompetera.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera. Dragonera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Aphrodisiac. Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Phanerophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Rocky coastlines. Rock crevices and cliff faces. Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. "A greatly branched shrub, with green top branches, articulated in nodes and internodes. The leaves have the shape of small, membranous scales which are found at the node level. The flowers are very bright yellow; the plant is dioecious, which means that there are male and female individuals, the latter form the seeds inside a red fleshy cover. The branches are disarticulated very easily, above all when dry. This plant lives preferably in coastal places, it is very frequent on small isles, but can also be found inland, generally in rocky places."