1、 Stem stem difference

The woody stems of Herba Ephedra are short, some are creeping, and the small branches are straight or slightly curved. There are fine longitudinal grooves on the surface. The length between the joints is 2.5 to 5.5 cm, mostly 3 to 4 cm, with a diameter of about 2 mm, which is green

The stem of Equisetum is horizontal or vertical, cylindrical, dark brown, up to 1 meter or more in height, 5 to 9 mm in diameter, and the length of the joint is about 5 to 8 cm, which is green

2、 Leaf difference

The leaves of Herba Ephedra have two lobes, the leaf sheath accounts for 1 / 3 or 2 / 3 of the total length, the sharp lobes are triangular, and the apex is very sharp

The leaves of Equisetum degenerate into scales, and the base forms a tubular sheath, which is about 6 to 10 mm long

3、 Flower difference

The flowers of Ephedra are terminal on the lateral branches, oval or rectangular oval, with 4 pairs of bracts. When the flowers mature, they are fleshy red, rectangular, round, ovoid or nearly round, with a length of about 8 mm and a diameter of about 6 mm

The Equisetum does not blossom, but will reproduce through spores