ephedra

e·phed·ra  (-fdr, f-dr)

n.

1. Any of various gymnospermous, mostly shrubby plants of the genus Ephedra, some of which are used as a source of ephedrine.

2. A stimulant, often sold as pills or tablets, derived from a plant of this genus.

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[Latin ephedra, horsetail, from Greek ephedr, from feminine of ephedros, sitting upon : ep-, epi-, epi- + hedr, seat; see sed- in Indo-European roots.]

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ephedra [ɪˈfɛdrə]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any gymnosperm shrub of the genus Ephedra, of warm regions of America and Eurasia: the source of ephedrine: family Ephedraceae, phylum Gnetophyta

[New Latin, from Latin, from Greek ephedros a sitting upon, from epi- + hedra seat]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

ephedra - jointed and nearly leafless desert shrub having reduced scalelike leaves and reddish fleshy seeds joint fir genus Ephedra - type and sole genus of Ephedraceae: tropical and subtropical evergreen shrubby or creeping plants native to dry and inhospitable regions Ephedra sinica, mahuang - Chinese ephedra yielding ephedrine bush, shrub - a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems