Ephedra distachya L

Ephedra distachya L. (Fig. 6 A-C) Species Plantarum 2: 1040 (Linnaeus 1753). — Chaetocladus distachys (L.) J. Nelson, Pinaceae: 162 (Nelson 1866). TYPE MATERIAL. — Netherlands • Clifford George s.n.; lecto-, BM [BM000647523] photo! ETYMOLOGY. — This species adjective refers to the plant having pairs of spikes or clusters in its inflorescence. PHENOLOGY. — Pollination from May to June, seed maturity July. DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Europe to northern China, S. Russian far east and Mongolia; new record for Mongolia, occurring in Zavkhan province, Uvs Province, Khovd province, Umnugobi province. This species grows in grasslands, sandy places, rocky mountain slopes, below 900 m (Fu et al. 1999; Zhao et al. 2019). ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Mongolia • Zavkhan, Tes Sum, sandy grassland; 11.VII.2017; L.Q. Zhao et al. M17-7276; HIMC[HIMC0014658]! • Uvs, Situlun Sum, sandy grassland; 12.VII.2017; L.Q. Zhao et al. M17-7278; HIMC[HIMC0014659]! • Khovd, Bouvet Sum, grassland; 26.VII.2017; L.Q. Zhao et al M17-7279; HIMC[HIMC0014842]! • South-east of Umnugobi, low hills of the Altai Mt.; 9.VI.2013; L.Q. Zhao et al M13-6071; HIMC[HIMC0011241]! China • Inner Mongolia, Ulanqab, Siziwang Qi, Wulanhua Township, mountain ridge; 03.VII.1991; Y.Z. Zhao 1183; HIMC[HIMC0002165] (photo!). TAXONOMIC NOTES This species shows close morphological similarity to Ephedra sinica Stapf, yet it can be distinguished by several features: its branchlets are curved or twisted, in contrast to the straight branchlets of E. sinica, the apex of the free part of its leaf is obtuse or subacute, unlike the subulate to narrowly triangular apex found in E. sinica, and its seeds are lanceolate or nearly linear with a spiked apex, contrasting with the ovate seeds and non-pointed apex of E. sinica (Fu et al. 1999; Zhao et al. 2019).