Ephedra nevadensis 'Mormon Tea' 30 SEEDS

Ephedra nevadensis 'Mormon Tea'

Ephedraceae: a dioecious, xerophytic shrub to 1.2m, with jointed or fluted stems and scale-like leaves. Found on dry, rocky slopes and hills, rarely in sandy flat areas. The inflorescence is conelike and the staminate flowers have united filaments. The ovulate spikes are distinctly stalked and the seeds are usually paired. Leaf scales are in twos, 2-6mm long, sheathing to about the middle, and obtuse to acute at the apex. Native to South-western N. America - Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Utah.

USES:

The fruit can be eaten raw, sweet but very mild in flavour. The seed can be cooked, they can also be roasted and ground into a powder and used to make a bread or mush. A delicious tea is made by steeping the green or dried twigs in boiling water until they turn an amber or pink colour.

The stems have blood purifying, diuretic, febrifuge, and tonic properties. They are beneficial in the treatment of urogenital complaints. An infusion has been used in the treatment of kidney problems, gonorrhoea and the first stages of syphilis. A poultice of the powdered stems has been applied to sores. The stems of most members of this genus contain the alkaloid ephedrine and are valuable in the treatment of asthma and many other complaints of the respiratory system.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Sow seeds in spring in a greenhouse in a sandy compost. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse. Requires a well-drained loamy soil and a sunny position. Established plants are drought resistant and are also lime tolerant. This species is dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

HARVESTED: 2017

APPROX. 30 SEEDS £2.50