Ephedra fasciculata
Common name:
Arizona Ephedra
Arizona Joint Fir
Desert Mormon Tea
Mojave Ephedra
Pronunciation:
e-fee-DRA fa-sik-yoo-LAY-ta
Genus:
Type:
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
No
- Shrubs with small deciduous leaves and green stems, erect or prostrate, to about 3 ft (~0.9 m) high. Stems pale green, yellowing with age, with many longitudinal grooves, internode length 1-5 cm. Leaves opposite, only 1-3 mm long, bases membranous, brown, becoming gray with age. Male (pollen) cones, light yellow, 2 or more at node, more or less ovoid, 4-8 mm long; female (seed) cones 2-several at node, obovoid to ellipsoid, 6-13 mm long, light brown to green.
- Full sun to partial shade, heat and drought tolerant.
- Hardy to USDA Zone 7(?) Native range from California, to Arizona, Nevada and Utah mostly on dry rocky slopes, washes, and sandy areas.
- fasciculata: in bundles, possibly a reference to the manner in which the small leaves are attached to the leaf stem in little bunches (of two's) or 'fascicles'
Click image to enlarge
-
plant habit
-
stems
-
flowers
