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Mexican Biodiversity
“There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally
breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling
on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms
most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved.”
Charles Darwin
Home > Species > Concepts > The extended family > Plants > Ginkos and Canutillos > Canutillos
Canutillos (Gnetophyta)
and branches. They have male cones, in which the pollen
develops, and seed cones.
What are they?
This group of plants (Division: Gnetophyta) includes three
families with a single genus in each: Ephedraceae,
Gnetaceae, and Welwitschiaceae (One species:
Welwitschia mirabilis). They are shrubs and lianas without
flowers. Unlike other non-flowering plants, this group
resembles the flowering plants in their vascular system,
particularly in the similarity of their water-conducting
xylem cells.
How Many?
The gnetums (Gnetum spp.) are trees, shrubs and evergreen
tropical lianas with large leaves. They are dioecious plants,
i.e. with male and female individuals.
Welwitschia, named after its Austrian discoverer, Dr.
Friedrich Welwitsch, is a large unique plant and is
considered a living fossil that can live for between 1000
and 2000 years.
How do they live?
There are about 40 species of
canutillos, 30 to 35 species of
Gnetum and a single species
of Weilwitschia. In Mexico, only
canutillos are found.
Where do they live?
The canutillos (Ephedra spp.) Live in arid climates of the
northern hemisphere mainly: Americas, Europe, North
Africa, and Asia. Also found in South America. Some live
in grasslands. In Mexico, living mainly in Northern Baja
California, Chihuahua, Sonora, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and
San Luis Potosi.
Gnetums are found in Asia, Africa and South America; in
the Amazon basin and in the Choco region (Ecuador and
Colombia).
Welwitschia mirabilis is found in the Namib Desert between
Namibia and Angola in south-eastern Africa.
Many of their herbivores are Hemiptera (bugs, cicadas,
aphids) or Heteroptera. Mammals such as bighorn sheep,
mule deer and the pronghorn, as well as cows, goats and
sheep, feed on some species. They are wind-pollinated
plants, while the seeds can be dispersed by small
mammals.
How do we use them?
Canutillos have been used in China for their medicinal
properties in the treatment of asthma, hay fever and colds
for 5000 years. In China they are known as Ma Huang
(yellow hemp). They contain alkaloids, ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine, and are used for low blood pressure
due to their vasoconstrictive effects. Ephedrine is a banned
substance for olympic athletes. The American species lack
alkaloids, however, some species are also traditionally
used as a remedy for stomach and kidney problems.
In Africa, two species of Gnetum are widely consumed for
their high nutritional value.
How are they?
The canutillos (Ephedra spp.), also known as jointfir,
jointpine, or mormon tea, are shrubs with very thin stems
URL: http://www.biodiversidad.gob.mx/v_ingles/species/gran_familia/plantas/ginkos/canutillos_ingles.html
Contact: [email protected] | México 2009