Ephedraceae is a family of

gymnosperm The gymnosperms ( ; ) are a group of woody, perennial Seed plant, seed-producing plants, typically lacking the protective outer covering which surrounds the seeds in flowering plants, that include Pinophyta, conifers, cycads, Ginkgo, and gnetoph ...

s belonging to

Gnetophyta Gnetophyta () is a division of plants (alternatively considered the subclass Gnetidae or order Gnetales), grouped within the gymnosperms (which also includes conifers, cycads, and ginkgos), that consists of some 70 species across the three relict ...

, it contains only a single extant genus, '' Ephedra'', as well as a number of extinct genera from the

Early Cretaceous The Early Cretaceous (geochronology, geochronological name) or the Lower Cretaceous (chronostratigraphy, chronostratigraphic name) is the earlier or lower of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous. It is usually considered to stretch from 143.1 ...

Taxonomy

File:Eamesia chinensis.png, '' Eamesia,'' showing male cone (B) File:Chengia laxispicatagen.webp, '' Chengia'', showing female reproductive spike (B) File:Jianchangia verticillata.webp, '' Jianchangia'', showing chlamydosperms (C) and ovulate cone (F) File:Arlenea diagram.jpg, Diagram of '' Arlenea,'' showing closeup of terminal region with female reproductive structures (B) and cross section of a female reproductive structure.(C) Ephedraceae is agreed to be the most basal group amongst extant gnetophytes. Members of the family typically grow as shrubs and have small, linear leaves that possess parallel veins. The fossil Ephedraceae genera show a range of morphologies transitional between the ancestral

lax A lax is a salmon. LAX as an acronym most commonly refers to Los Angeles International Airport in Southern California, United States. LAX or Lax may also refer to: Places Within Los Angeles * Union Station (Los Angeles), Los Angeles' main tr ...

male and female reproductive structures and the highly compact reproductive structures typical of modern ''Ephedra''. Modern members of ''Ephedra'' have either dry winged membranous

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also lo ...

s (modified leaves which surround the seed), which are dispersed by wind, leathery covered seeds, which are dispersed by seed-eating rodents, or fleshy bracts which are consumed and then dispersed by birds. Some extinct members of ''Ephedra'' from the Early Cretaceous, such as ''Ephedra carnosa'', as well as '' Arlenea'' from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil have fleshy bracts surrounding the seeds, suggesting that these seeds were dispersed by animals.

Genera

* '' Ephedra'' L. Early Cretaceous-Recent * '' Arlenea'' Ribeiro, Yang, Saraiva, Bantim, Calixto Junior et Lima, 2023

Crato Formation The Crato Formation is a geologic formation (stratigraphy), formation of Early Cretaceous (Aptian) age in northeastern Brazil's Araripe Basin. It is an important Lagerstätten, Lagerstätte (undisturbed fossil accumulation) for palaeontology, pa ...

, Brazil, Early Cretaceous (

Aptian The Aptian is an age (geology), age in the geologic timescale or a stage (stratigraphy), stage in the stratigraphic column. It is a subdivision of the Early Cretaceous, Early or Lower Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or series (stratigraphy), S ...

) * '' Leongathia'' V.A. Krassilov, D.L. Dilcher & J.G. Douglas 1998 Koonwarra fossil bed, Australia, Early Cretaceous (Aptian) * '' Jianchangia'' Yang, Wang and Ferguson, 2020

Jiufotang Formation The Jiufotang Formation () is an Early Cretaceous geological formation in Chaoyang, Liaoning which has yielded fossils of feathered dinosaurs, primitive birds, pterosaurs, and other organisms (see Jehol Biota). It is a member of the Jehol group. T ...

, China, Early Cretaceous (Aptian) * '' Eamesia'' Yang, Lin and Ferguson, 2018

Yixian Formation The Yixian Formation (; formerly Romanization of Chinese, transcribed as Yihsien Formation or Yixiang Formation) is a geological formation in Jinzhou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China, that spans the Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous. I ...

, China, Early Cretaceous (Aptian) * '' Prognetella'' Krassilov et Bugdaeva, 1999 Yixian Formation, China, Early Cretaceous (Aptian) (initially interpreted as an angiosperm) * '' Chengia'' Yang, Lin & Wang, 2013, Yixian Formation, China, Early Cretaceous (Aptian) * '' Chaoyangia'' Duan, 1998 Yixian Formation, China, Early Cretaceous (Aptian) * '' Eragrosites'' Cao & Wu, 1998 Yixian Formation, China, Early Cretaceous (Aptian) * '' Gurvanella'' Krassilov, 1982 China, Mongolia, Early Cretaceous * '' Alloephedra'' Tao and Yang, 2003 China, Early Cretaceous (considered a synonym of ''Ephedra'' by some authors) * '' Amphiephedra'' Miki, 1964 China, Early Cretaceous * '' Beipiaoa'' Dilcher & al, 2001 China, Early Cretaceous * '' Ephedrispermum'' Rydin, K.R.Pedersen, P.R.Crane et E.M.Friis, 2006 Portugal, Early Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian) * '' Ephedrites'' Guo and Wu, 2000 China, Early Cretaceous * '' Erenia'' Krassilov, 1982 China, Mongolia, Early Cretaceous * '' Liaoxia'' Cao et al. 1998 China, Early Cretaceous * '' Dichoephedra'' Ren et al. 2020 China, Early Cretaceous * '' Laiyangia'' P.H. Jin, 2024 China, Early Cretaceous * ?''Pseudoephedra'' Liu and Wang, 2015 China, Early Cretaceous

References

{{Authority control Plant families Taxa named by Barthélemy Charles Joseph Dumortier