Abstract
Ephedra pangiensis Rita Singh & P. Sharma is recognized here as a new synonym of E. intermedia Schrenk & C.A. Mey. as both found conspecific. A detailed description of E. intermedia with additional taxonomic characters, photographs, illustrations and distribution map are provided. Morpho-anatomical comparison of E. intermedia with its congeneric taxa occurring in India is also provided for an ease of identification.
References
<p>GBIF (2021) Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Published on the Internet: https://www.gbif.org (Retrieved 11 December 2021)</p>
<p>Ickert-Bond, S.M. (2003) <em>Systematics of New World Ephedra L. (Ephedraceae): Integrating morphological and molecular data</em>. Arizona State University, pp. 73–124.</p>
<p>Ickert-Bond, S.M. & Renner, S.S. (2016) The Gnetales: recent insights on their morphology, reproductive biology, chromosome numbers, biogeography, and divergence times. <em>Journal of Systematics and Evolution</em> 54 (1): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12190</p>
<p>IPNI (2021) International Plant Names Index. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries and Australian National Botanic Gardens. Published on the Internet: http://www.ipni.org (Retrieved 18 September 2021)</p>
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<p>Linnaeus, C. (1753) <em>Species Plantarum.</em> Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae 2: 1040 pp.</p>
<p>Meyer, K.A. (1846) <em>Versucheiner Monographie der gattung Ephedra, durch abbildungen erläutert</em>. Dr. der Kaiserlichen Akad. der Wissenschaften, pp. 88–89.</p>
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<p>Rather, Z.A. Ahmad, R., Dar, A.R. Dar, T.U.H. & Khuroo, A.A. (2021) Predicting shifts in distribution range and niche breadth of plant species in contrasting arid environments under climate change. <em>Environmental Monitoring and Assessment</em> 193 (7): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09160-5</p>
<p>Sharma, P. & Uniyal, P.L. (2008) <em>Ephedra sumlingensis</em> (Ephedraceae) A New Species from Himachal Pradesh, India. <em>Nelumbo</em> 50 (1–4): 179–182. http://dx.doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo%2Fv50%2F2008%2F58299</p>
<p>Sharma, P. Uniyal, P.L. & Hammer, Ø. (2010) Two new species of <em>Ephedra</em> (Ephedraceae) from the western Himalayan Region. <em>Systematic Botany</em> 35 (4): 730–735. https://doi.org/10.1600/036364410X539817</p>
<p>Sharma, P. & Singh, R. (2015) A new species of <em>Ephedra</em> (Ephedraceae, Ephedrales) from India. <em>Phytotaxa</em> 218 (2): 189–192. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.218.2.10</p>
<p>Sharma, P. & Singh, R. (2016) <em>Ephedra yangthangensis</em> (Ephedraceae), a new species from Himachal Pradesh, India. <em>Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy</em> 23 (2): 195–198. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v23i2.30850</p>
<p>Singh, D.K. & Pusalkar, P.K. (2020) Floristic Diversity of the Indian Himalaya.<em> In: </em>Dar, G. & Khuroo, A.A. (eds.) <em>Biodiversity of the Himalaya: Jammu and Kashmir State.</em> Springer, Singapore, pp. 93–126. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9174-4_5</p>
<p>Stapf, O. (1889) <em>Die Arten der Gattung Ephedra</em>. KK Hof-und Staatsdruckerei, in Commission bei F. Tempsky, pp. 61–65.</p>
<p>Ickert-Bond, S.M. (2003) <em>Systematics of New World Ephedra L. (Ephedraceae): Integrating morphological and molecular data</em>. Arizona State University, pp. 73–124.</p>
<p>Ickert-Bond, S.M. & Renner, S.S. (2016) The Gnetales: recent insights on their morphology, reproductive biology, chromosome numbers, biogeography, and divergence times. <em>Journal of Systematics and Evolution</em> 54 (1): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12190</p>
<p>IPNI (2021) International Plant Names Index. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries and Australian National Botanic Gardens. Published on the Internet: http://www.ipni.org (Retrieved 18 September 2021)</p>
<p>Khuraijam, J.S. & Mazumdar J. (2019) An updated checklist of Indian western Himalayan gymnosperms and Lecto-typification of three names. <em>Journal of Threatened Taxa</em> 11 (9): 14204–14211. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4827.11.9.14204-14211</p>
<p>Linnaeus, C. (1753) <em>Species Plantarum.</em> Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae 2: 1040 pp.</p>
<p>Meyer, K.A. (1846) <em>Versucheiner Monographie der gattung Ephedra, durch abbildungen erläutert</em>. Dr. der Kaiserlichen Akad. der Wissenschaften, pp. 88–89.</p>
<p>POWO (2019) Plants of the world online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org (Retrieved16 November 2021)</p>
<p>Rather, Z.A. Wachkoo, A.A. Khuroo, A.A. & Dar, A.R. (2019) First record of <em>Aspicera hartigi</em> (Hymenoptera, Figitidae) from India, with observations on its foraging behavior on <em>Ephedra</em> plants. <em>Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity</em> 12 (3): 473–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2019.03.007</p>
<p>Rather, Z.A., Khuroo, A.A. Dar, A.R. & Dar, T.U.H. (2020) Smartphone-integrated field microscopy (SPFM): a low-cost and portable tool to study live biological specimens in the wild. <em>Plant Biosystems-An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology </em>154 (5): 757–765. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2019.1686081</p>
<p>Rather, Z.A. Ahmad, R., Dar, A.R. Dar, T.U.H. & Khuroo, A.A. (2021) Predicting shifts in distribution range and niche breadth of plant species in contrasting arid environments under climate change. <em>Environmental Monitoring and Assessment</em> 193 (7): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09160-5</p>
<p>Sharma, P. & Uniyal, P.L. (2008) <em>Ephedra sumlingensis</em> (Ephedraceae) A New Species from Himachal Pradesh, India. <em>Nelumbo</em> 50 (1–4): 179–182. http://dx.doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo%2Fv50%2F2008%2F58299</p>
<p>Sharma, P. Uniyal, P.L. & Hammer, Ø. (2010) Two new species of <em>Ephedra</em> (Ephedraceae) from the western Himalayan Region. <em>Systematic Botany</em> 35 (4): 730–735. https://doi.org/10.1600/036364410X539817</p>
<p>Sharma, P. & Singh, R. (2015) A new species of <em>Ephedra</em> (Ephedraceae, Ephedrales) from India. <em>Phytotaxa</em> 218 (2): 189–192. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.218.2.10</p>
<p>Sharma, P. & Singh, R. (2016) <em>Ephedra yangthangensis</em> (Ephedraceae), a new species from Himachal Pradesh, India. <em>Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy</em> 23 (2): 195–198. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v23i2.30850</p>
<p>Singh, D.K. & Pusalkar, P.K. (2020) Floristic Diversity of the Indian Himalaya.<em> In: </em>Dar, G. & Khuroo, A.A. (eds.) <em>Biodiversity of the Himalaya: Jammu and Kashmir State.</em> Springer, Singapore, pp. 93–126. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9174-4_5</p>
<p>Stapf, O. (1889) <em>Die Arten der Gattung Ephedra</em>. KK Hof-und Staatsdruckerei, in Commission bei F. Tempsky, pp. 61–65.</p>