ə̇ˈfedrə, ˈefədrə noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, horsetail, from Greek, from ephedros sitting upon, from epi- + hedra seat — more at sit
1. capitalized : a large genus of jointed nearly leafless desert shrubs (family Gnetaceae) having the leaves reduced to opposite or verticillate scales at the nodes — see mahuang
2. -s : any plant of the genus Ephedra