686 CXIII. G-NETACEiE [Ephedra 



has the functions of a style^ and enclosed by a single or double peiianth. 

 Perianth or bracts supporting the $ inflorescence become fleshy in fr. 



The general structure of tlie wood resembles that of normally built Dicotyledons, it 

 consists of vessels, wood-fibres, wood-parenchyma and medullary rays. No resin canals. 

 Gnetum scandens, like many dicotyledonous climbers, shows on the transverse section 

 concentric bands of wedge-shaped masses of xylem and phloem, separated by medullary 

 rays. 



Membranous sheaths at the base of internodes . . . .1, Ephedra. 



Leaves evergreen, opposite 2. G^ETUM. 



1. EPHEDRA, Linn.; M. Brit. Ind. v. 640. 



(Dr. Otto Stapf, Die Arten der Grattung Ephedra^ Wien, 1889. Dr. Paul 

 Jaccard, Eecherches sur V Ephedra helvetica^ Lausanne, 1894.) 

 Eigid shrubs or undershrubSj a few species climbingj old stems often 

 ribbed, branches terete, striate, opposite or whorled, with membranous sheaths 

 at the nodes, which often bear 2-4 narrow leafy blades. Fl. usually dioecious, 



$ in short bracteate spikelets, which are whorled or in pairs, peiianth of two 

 opposite, compressed membranous sepals, anthers 2-8, on a central column, 

 cells 2, opening by a short slit at the apex. ? fl. usually in pairs, some- 

 times 3 or solitary, each fl. consisting of one ovule with a single integument, 

 prolonged into a tube, which has the functions of a style (tubillus) and 

 enclosed in a bag, which may be regarded as a perianth. Each $ inflores- 

 cence (spikelet) supported by several pairs of decussate bracts. Pr. in the 

 species here described fleshy, consisting of the succulent bracts, enclosing 

 1 or 2 seeds. Species 31, dry regions of Europe, North Africa, Asia and 

 America. 



A. Tall, scandent, with slender branchlets. 



1. E. foliata, Boiss. — Syn. JE. Ahe, Brandis F. Fl. t. 69 (non C. A. Meyer), JE. pedtm' 

 cularis, Boiss. Baluchistan. Sind. Kurani valley. Punjab plains, excepting the 

 ISTorth-East, ascending in the Salt range to 3,000 ft. Probably in Bajputana. — 

 Southern Arabia. Persia. Afghanistan. Vern. Kuchan, Punj. A tall scandent 

 shrub, often gregarious, forming dense thickets, stem 3 in. diam., bark exfoliating in 

 fibrous shreds, branches slender, flaccid, generally whorled, branchlets often filiform, 

 internodes 1-4 in. long, leaf-sheath short, bearing at the upper nodes 2-4 small linear 

 leafy blades. PI. often monoecious, male fl. in strictly decussate pairs, 4-12 pairs in one 

 spikelet, bracts rounded, obtuse, edge thinly fimbriate, anthers 3 or 4. Female 

 spikelets pedunculate, often in small terminal cymes, tulDillus short, straight. Fr. 

 globose, J in. diam., semitransparent, red or milky-white, showing two dark-coloured 

 seeds. 



B. Eigid erect shrubs, generally numerous stems from a woody rootstock. 



2. E, Gerardiana, T^'^all.; Coliett Simla Flora 481. — Syn. U. vulgaris, Brandis F. Fl. 

 501 ; Kanjilal F. Fl. 346. Vern. Tutgantha^ Jauns. Hariab district, Ivuram valley 

 11,000 ft., common. Himalaya 8-14,000 ft., also in the inner arid tracts, ascending in 

 Sikkini to 16,500 ft. — Pamirs. Yarkand. Tibet. A rigid, nearly erect shrub, uj^ to 

 1-2 ft. high. Tufts of short branches with opposite or whorled branchlets irom a 

 woody much-branched usually creeping rootstock, internodes about 1 in. long, under 

 3^-j in. diam. Male spikelets ovate, ^-^ in long, solitary or in jmirs, rarely in whorls 

 of 3, fl. 2-4 pairs, anthers 5-8. Female spikelets J in. long, usually solitary, bracts 2-S 

 pairs, tubillus straight, Fr. sweet, edible, red when ripe. 8. E. nebrodensis, Tineo. 

 Baluchistan, Juniper tracts, 7-10,000 ft. (Omah, Umah), Balti. Lahaul. — Mediter- 

 ranean region, Western Asia and Caucasus. Internodes smooth, slender, -J-l in. long, 

 ^VtV ill- diam. Male spikelets few-fld., solitary or 2-8 together, female solitary short- 

 pedunculate, tubillus straight. Fr. globose, J in. diam. 4. E. intermedia, Schrenk 

 u. Meyer. — North- West Himalaya, chiefly in the inner arid valleys. Chitral 4-5,000 ft. 

 on dry rock3" slopes {Bumani\ Gilgit, Zanskar, Upper Chenab., Kunawar {Khamia). — 

 Persia, Turkestan, Bokhara. Western China. A small erect shrub, often glaucous, 

 internodes rough, 1J-2| in. long, -/^-^ in. diam. Fl sometimes monoecious, male 

 spikelets ^-J in. long, numerous, in dense whorls at the nodes. Female spikelets shortly 

 pedunculate, whorled at the nodes, tubillus twisted. Fr. i in. long, fleshy, red when 

 ripe. 5. E. pachyclada, Boiss. Baluchistan, Kdkar Lora valley, 5,500-6,000 ft. — Southern 

 Persia. Afghanistan. A small gregarious shrub, internodes 1-2J in. long, xV"i l^- 

 diam., anthers 6-8, sessile, crowded, large. 



