Ephedra fragilis Desf.

A scrambling, creeping or climbing shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 5 m high. It is soft wooded. The stems are flexible. The leaves are scale like. They are dark green and opposite. The plants are separately male and female. In male plants the flowering cluster is almost stalkless. There are 4-8 flowers together. In female plants there are 1-2 flowers. The fruit are 8-9 cm long. The seeds are almost hidden by red bracts.

It grows in Mediterranean countries. It is naturalised near Melbourne, Australia.

Can be grown by seedlings.