EPHEDRACEAE

EPHEDRA FAMILY

James R. Griffin

Shrub or tree-like, densely branched, generally dioecious
Stem generally erect, < 2 m, jointed; node conspicuous, internode > leaf; bark with irregular, longitudinal cracks, generally gray; twigs whorled, grooved, greenish and photosynthetic when young, glaucous, glabrous to scabrous, sometimes thorn-like
Leaves 2–3 per node, not green; bases ± fused into sheath, thickening with age; tips often ± deciduous
Pollen cones 1–5 per node, generally short-stalked, generally spheric; bracts generally flexible, lower sterile, upper subtending 2–8 stamen-like structures
Seed cones generally 1–3 per node, sessile or stalk < 5 mm; bracts generally flexible, lower sterile, upper enclosing 1–3 seeds
Seed spheric to cylindric, smooth or furrowed, generally angled at top, generally brown
Genera in family: 1 genus, 42 species: North America, South America, Medit, Asia
Reference: [Cutler 1939 Ann Mo Bot Gar 26:373–424]

EPHEDRA

EPHEDRA, MORMON TEA

Etymology: (Greek: Equisetum , for resemblance to those plants)

Native

E. aspera S. Watson

Stem < 1.5 m; twig greenish when young, aging yellow, tip not thorn-like
Leaves 2 per node, < 6 mm, generally persistent, sometimes deciduous but leaving thickened bases
Pollen cones generally 2 per node, < 7 mm
Seed cones generally 2 per node, < 10 mm, ovoid, sessile
Seed 1, 5–8 mm, ovoid, generally smooth
Ecology: Creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree woodland
Elevation: < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Desert
Distribution outside California: to Texas, Mexico
Synonyms: E. nevadensis var. a. L.D. Benson
Horticultural information: TRY.