Order Gnetales

Order Gnetales

There are only three genera of Gnetophytes. Species of Ephedra (like the one shown here) are shrubs or vines and they yield the drug ephedrin which is used to treat colds. Gnetum species are long, trailing lianas of tropical forests and their seeds are sometimes used as food. The third species, Welwitschia, is a strange desert plant. [CH] {EN}