Ephedra gerardiana in Nepal

[tripsis]

Just a few photos.

 

Found on the outskirts of Manang, at around 3600 m

 

At Tilicho Base Camp at around 4200 m.

 

 

Small plants in the fresh snow at high altitude, at around 4800m, outside of Gokyo.

 

As above. It was difficult to tell whether the yak was grazing on the Ephedra itself, or only the grass around it. Not the most palatable of plants.

Edited October 25, 2020 by tripsis

[nothinghead]

Amazing photos, and a cool plant. Any idea whether the flowering one is a male or female? Nice to see you back btw :D

[tripsis]

Female, but immature cones. A little too early in the season for them to be mature.

[withdrawl clinic]

i love this ephedra, but it's heat sensitive, so i cant grow it at my location.

ephedras are awsome, and grow all over the world.

 

[sagiXsagi]

Again, amazing pictures.. How are you sure that they are gerardiana, and not some of the more miniature species, like regalis, which you had shown in a previous trip from Pakistan I think (?). From what I remember from their descriptions they are not small like this, even though I havent read the literature for some time.. There's also a SAB memeber growing them, and again they dont look similar. 

 

On the other hand the presence of the animal grazing shows that the animals propably affect the shape of plants.. 

 

Hey tripsis, are you a mountaineer??  I have read and seen lots of docus about mountaineering accidents, you guys are NUTS! 

 

the best species to grow is distachya, but you wont read anywhere about that.. everyone obsesses over sinica, equisetina and gerardiana. 

Edited February 6, 2021 by sagiXsagi