Gnetophyta

Gnetophyta is a division of plants, grouped within the Gymnosperms which includes three extant families of woody plants, namely Ephedraceae, Gnetaceae, and Welwitschiaceae. These plants are unique among gymnosperms in having vessels in their xylem, and variations in the pattern of vessel distribution have been described.

Taxonomy[edit | edit source]

The division Gnetophyta consists of three orders, each containing a single family and genus. The three genera are Ephedra, Gnetum, and Welwitschia.

Ephedra is a genus of gymnosperm shrubs, the species of which are known as joint-pines, jointfir, or Mormon-tea.
Gnetum is a genus of gymnosperms, the sole genus in the family Gnetaceae and order Gnetales.
Welwitschia is a monotypic gymnosperm genus, comprising solely the distinctive Welwitschia mirabilis.

Characteristics[edit | edit source]

Gnetophytes are woody plants that produce vessel elements, a type of water-conducting cell that most flowering plants also produce. This is in contrast to other gymnosperms, which lack vessels in their wood.

Distribution and Habitat[edit | edit source]

Gnetophytes are found in tropical rain forests, deserts, and temperate woodland. The three families are each highly specialized to very different habitats.

Uses[edit | edit source]

Some species in the Ephedra genus have traditional medicinal uses. For instance, Ephedra sinica, known in Chinese as ma huang, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 5,000 years for the treatment of asthma and hay fever, as well as for the common cold.

References[edit | edit source]

Gnetophyta Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.