Ephedra trifurca

Common Name: Mormon Tea, Longleaf Joint Fir
Oˊodham Name: Kubgam Audio
Group: Shrubs － Desert

Description

Ephedra trifurca is a large shrub consisting of a dense bundle of long green stems. The stems are formed in segments and flowers are produced at the joints between the stems. In the Springtime, the plants form large numbers of cone flowers covered by papery sheaths. This species grows in coarse soils and along wash banks between 2000 and 3500 ft elevation.

entire plant
stems

Classification

Kingdom Plantae － Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta － Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta － Seed plants

Division Gnetophyta － Mormon tea and other gnetophytes

Class Gnetopsida

Order Ephedrales

Family Ephedraceae － Mormon-tea family

Genus Ephedra L. － jointfir

Species Ephedra trifurca Torr. ex S. Watson － longleaf jointfir

More Information

USDA Plant Profile and Map