Ephedra distachya L. in Serbia

During floristic investigations of eastern Serbia (foothills of the Stara Planina Mountains near Minićevo, Turjačka Glama hill), Ephedra distachya (Ephedraceae) was discovered as a species new for the vascular flora of Serbia.

Ephedra distachya L Source: BOTANICA SERBICA

The earliest known fossil records of Ephedraceae and extinct relatives were dated to the Early Cretaceous.

Modern species probably originated from extinct and morphologically very similar Cretaceous sister lineage (s).

Many Ephedra species contain in their aerial parts ephedrine and related alkaloids (norephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylephed

Ефедру је у подножју Старе планине у околини Књажевца, у заштићеном подручју парка природе, пронашао др Марјан Никетић, музејски саветник и српски ботаничар, а своје откриће недавно је објавио у научном часопису "Botanica Serbica".