Nevada Ephedra, Nevada Jointfir, Mormon Tea

In the photo at right, note the cones at the nodes.

Nevada ephedra is a shrub to 1.3 meters in height. It is densely branched, with the branches arranged both spreading and erect. The twigs are whorled, gooved, and pale green, aging to yellow and gray. The twigs are glaucous. There are generally 2or 3 leaves per node, generally less than 8 mm long. The leaf bases are thickened, persistent, and gray. In this species, individual plants are either male or female, or occasionally may have both male and female cones on the same plant. Individual cones are never of both sexes. There are 1 to 3 pollen cones per node, with each ranging from 4-8 mm long. 2 to 6 seed cones may be found per node, with these 5 to 11 mm long, these being spherical in shape. The cones flower in August, and produce a pointed, round, sessile fruit. Habitat:

Nevada ephedra is found in warm, arid habitats, often on dry, gravelly slpes and flats. It may be found mixed with creosote-bush, sagebrush, or as part of the Joshua-tree woodland (southern California). It is generally found below 1100 meters in elevation.

Nevada ephedra is found over much of the southwestern deserts and intermountain west, ranging northward to the southern-most portions of southeastern Oregon.