Main Entry: ephe·dra

Pronunciation: \i-ˈfe-drə, ˈe-fə-drə\

Function: noun

Etymology: New Latin, genus name, from Latin, equisetum, from Greek, from ephedros sitting upon, from epi- + hedra seat — more at sit

Date: circa 1889

1 : any of a genus (Ephedra of the family Ephedraceae) of jointed nearly leafless shrubs of dry or desert regions with the leaves reduced to scales at the nodes
2 : an extract of ma huang containing ephedrine and related alkaloids and used as a dietary supplement