Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. ???

[Saroj Kasaju]

Dear Members,

Sharing some pictures I guess ia Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. shot at Leh on 22 August 2016.

I don't think it matches with Ephedra gerardiana  

.

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[chrischa...@btinternet.com]

Ephedra identification is often challenging - especially as most of the specimens encountered have no flowers or fruit.  The joint-pines are adapted to

the low-rainfall of Tibetan borderlands. The leaves are reduced to scales on the stems (helping reduce the loss of water through transpiration), which are green for photosynthesis. 

E.geradiana is understood to be the common, widespread species along the Himalaya (or more accurately, along the borderlands of Tibet).  I agree that the images

do not match E.geradiana.  3 species are recorded from Ladakh: E.geradiana, E.intermedia and E.regelii according to Dickore & Klimes.  Stewart records all three.  As for E.pachyclada, he states that Riedl. does not report this from Pakistan or Kashmir.  However, Kitamura reported it from the Chaman Pass on the Baluchistan-Afghan border.  Boiss. reported it from "W.Tibet", probably Ladakh.

I consider the range of the species is poorly known.  Fortunately, I have a much better (but far from perfect) idea about the three main species in Ladakh than I did just a few months ago but still consider myself a novice with Ephedras.   The images are not of E.regelii.  I currently think they most likely are within E.intermedia but will consider E.pachyclada.   Can anyone say with confidence which species and how one differentiates between E.intermedia and E.pachyclada?

efloraofPakistan for Ephedra: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=111784  But how reliable is this key?   Cannot make out any wart-like projections on the stems in the close-up image but cannot see the characteristics describe for E.pachyclada either.....

[J.M. Garg]

Forwarding again for Id confirmation or otherwise please.

Some earlier relevant feedback:

Ephedra identification is often challenging - especially as most of the specimens encountered have no flowers or fruit.  The joint-pines are adapted to the low-rainfall of Tibetan borderlands. The leaves are reduced to scales on the stems (helping reduce the loss of water through transpiration), which are green for photosynthesis.  E.geradiana is understood to be the common, widespread species along the Himalaya (or more accurately, along the borderlands of Tibet).  I agree that the images do not match E.geradiana.  3 species are recorded from Ladakh: E.geradiana, E.intermedia and E.regelii according to Dickore & Klimes.  Stewart records all three.  As for E.pachyclada, he states that Riedl. does not report this from Pakistan or Kashmir.  However, Kitamura reported it from the Chaman Pass on the Baluchistan-Afghan border.  Boiss. reported it from "W.Tibet", probably Ladakh. I consider the range of the species is poorly known.  Fortunately, I have a much better (but far from perfect) idea about the three main species in Ladakh than I did just a few months ago but still consider myself a novice with Ephedras.   The images are not of E.regelii.  I currently think they most likely are within E.intermedia but will consider E.pachyclada.   Can anyone say with confidence which species and how one differentiates between E.intermedia and E.pachyclada? efloraofPakistan for Ephedra: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=111784  But how reliable is this key?   Cannot make out any wart-like projections on the stems in the close-up image but cannot see the characteristics describe for E.pachyclada either.....

- from Chris Chadwell ji.

--

With regards,
J.M.Garg

'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna'

Winner of Wipro-NFS Sparrow Awards 2014 for efloraofindia. 

For identification, learning, discussion & documentation of Indian Flora, please visit/ join our Efloraofindia Google e-group (largest in the world- around 2700 members & 2,40,000 messages on 31.3.16) or Efloraofindia website (with a species database of more than 11,000 species & 2,20,000 images).

The whole world uses my Image Resource of more than a thousand species & eight thousand images of Birds, Butterflies, Plants etc. (arranged alphabetically & place-wise). You can also use them for free as per Creative Commons license attached with each image.

Also author of 'A Photoguide to the Birds of Kolkata & Common Birds of India'.

[Saroj Kasaju]

ID pending!

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Saroj Kasaju]

Dear Tabish,

For inclusion in the FoI.

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

Forwarded conversation

Subject: Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. ???

------------------------

From: Saroj Kasaju <kasaj...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Sep 29, 2016 at 11:04 PM
To: efloraofindia <indian...@googlegroups.com>, "J.M. Garg" <jmg...@gmail.com>

Dear Members,

Sharing some pictures I guess ia Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. shot at Leh on 22 August 2016.

I don't think it matches with Ephedra gerardiana  

.

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

----------
From: J.M. Garg <jmg...@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Oct 1, 2016 at 9:31 AM
To: Saroj Kasaju <kasaj...@gmail.com>

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: chrischadwell261@btinternet.com <chrischadwell261@btinternet.com>
Date: 1 October 2016 at 00:33
Subject: Re: Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. ???
To: efloraofindia <indiantreepix@googlegroups.com>
Cc: jmg...@gmail.com

Ephedra identification is often challenging - especially as most of the specimens encountered have no flowers or fruit.  The joint-pines are adapted to

the low-rainfall of Tibetan borderlands. The leaves are reduced to scales on the stems (helping reduce the loss of water through transpiration), which are green for photosynthesis. 

E.geradiana is understood to be the common, widespread species along the Himalaya (or more accurately, along the borderlands of Tibet).  I agree that the images

do not match E.geradiana.  3 species are recorded from Ladakh: E.geradiana, E.intermedia and E.regelii according to Dickore & Klimes.  Stewart records all three.  As for E.pachyclada, he states that Riedl. does not report this from Pakistan or Kashmir.  However, Kitamura reported it from the Chaman Pass on the Baluchistan-Afghan border.  Boiss. reported it from "W.Tibet", probably Ladakh.

I consider the range of the species is poorly known.  Fortunately, I have a much better (but far from perfect) idea about the three main species in Ladakh than I did just a few months ago but still consider myself a novice with Ephedras.   The images are not of E.regelii.  I currently think they most likely are within E.intermedia but will consider E.pachyclada.   Can anyone say with confidence which species and how one differentiates between E.intermedia and E.pachyclada?

efloraofPakistan for Ephedra: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=111784  But how reliable is this key?   Cannot make out any wart-like projections on the stems in the close-up image but cannot see the characteristics describe for E.pachyclada either.....

--

With regards,
J.M.Garg

'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna'

Winner of Wipro-NFS Sparrow Awards 2014 for efloraofindia. 

For identification, learning, discussion & documentation of Indian Flora, please visit/ join our Efloraofindia Google e-group (largest in the world- around 2700 members & 2,40,000 messages on 31.3.16) or Efloraofindia website (with a species database of more than 11,000 species & 2,20,000 images).

The whole world uses my Image Resource of more than a thousand species & eight thousand images of Birds, Butterflies, Plants etc. (arranged alphabetically & place-wise). You can also use them for free as per Creative Commons license attached with each image.

Also author of 'A Photoguide to the Birds of Kolkata & Common Birds of India'.

----------
From: Saroj Kasaju <kasaj...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Oct 3, 2016 at 9:30 PM
To: "J.M. Garg" <jmg...@gmail.com>, C CHADWELL <chrischa...@btinternet.com>, Flowers of India <flowers...@gmail.com>, Tabish Qureshi <tab...@gmail.com>

Need expert help for final validation of ID.

CC: FoI

Thank you

----------
From: J.M. Garg <jmg...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 6, 2016 at 4:43 PM
To: efloraofindia <indian...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: Saroj Kasaju <kasaj...@gmail.com>, chrischa...@btinternet.com

Forwarding again for Id confirmation or otherwise please.

Some earlier relevant feedback:

Ephedra identification is often challenging - especially as most of the specimens encountered have no flowers or fruit.  The joint-pines are adapted to the low-rainfall of Tibetan borderlands. The leaves are reduced to scales on the stems (helping reduce the loss of water through transpiration), which are green for photosynthesis.  E.geradiana is understood to be the common, widespread species along the Himalaya (or more accurately, along the borderlands of Tibet).  I agree that the images do not match E.geradiana.  3 species are recorded from Ladakh: E.geradiana, E.intermedia and E.regelii according to Dickore & Klimes.  Stewart records all three.  As for E.pachyclada, he states that Riedl. does not report this from Pakistan or Kashmir.  However, Kitamura reported it from the Chaman Pass on the Baluchistan-Afghan border.  Boiss. reported it from "W.Tibet", probably Ladakh. I consider the range of the species is poorly known.  Fortunately, I have a much better (but far from perfect) idea about the three main species in Ladakh than I did just a few months ago but still consider myself a novice with Ephedras.   The images are not of E.regelii.  I currently think they most likely are within E.intermedia but will consider E.pachyclada.   Can anyone say with confidence which species and how one differentiates between E.intermedia and E.pachyclada? efloraofPakistan for Ephedra: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=111784  But how reliable is this key?   Cannot make out any wart-like projections on the stems in the close-up image but cannot see the characteristics describe for E.pachyclada either.....    - from Chris Chadwell ji.

--

With regards,
J.M.Garg

'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna'

Winner of Wipro-NFS Sparrow Awards 2014 for efloraofindia. 

For identification, learning, discussion & documentation of Indian Flora, please visit/ join our Efloraofindia Google e-group (largest in the world- around 2700 members & 2,40,000 messages on 31.3.16) or Efloraofindia website (with a species database of more than 11,000 species & 2,20,000 images).

The whole world uses my Image Resource of more than a thousand species & eight thousand images of Birds, Butterflies, Plants etc. (arranged alphabetically & place-wise). You can also use them for free as per Creative Commons license attached with each image.

Also author of 'A Photoguide to the Birds of Kolkata & Common Birds of India'.

----------
From: Saroj Kasaju <kasaj...@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Aug 20, 2017 at 9:53 PM
To: "J.M. Garg" <jmg...@gmail.com>, Tabish <tab...@gmail.com>, "flowers...@gmail.com" <flowers...@gmail.com>
Cc: efloraofindia <indian...@googlegroups.com>, C CHADWELL <chrischa...@btinternet.com>

[Saroj Kasaju]

Comparing the images from the book from Flora of Ladakh  I guess it matches more with Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A.Mey.

Your opinion pleaes.

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

--

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Saroj Kasaju]

Request for ID validation !

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Saroj Kasaju]

Dear Mr. Garg / Tabish,

Any opinion from your side?

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Saroj Kasaju]

Some more images from net for verification !

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Saroj Kasaju]

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Saroj Kasaju]

Deare Tabish,

Ok. I just noticed this has been listed in efi  site.

Thank you Mr. Garg !

Saroj Kasaju

[Saroj Kasaju]

Forwarding Ephedra intermedia for FoI !

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju

[Mahadeswara]

Superb photographs .  Awesome upload !

[Saroj Kasaju]

Any confusion about ID Tabish Ji ?

Thank you.

Saroj Kasaju