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. funerea Coville & C.V. Morton

DEATH VALLEY EPHEDRA

Stem < 1.5 m; twig pale gray-green when young, aging gray, tip not thorn-like
Leaves generally 3 per node, < 5 mm; bases not thickened, persistent, not recurved
Pollen cones 1–3 per node, 5–8 mm
Seed cones < 15 mm, elliptic, sessile or short-stalked
Seed generally 1, sometimes 2–3, 6–9 mm, ovoid, 4-angled, smooth to scabrous
Ecology: Creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 1700 m.
Bioregional distribution: Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: to w Nevada
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY, SUN: 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.