Ephedra species
The Jointfirs
Family: Ephedraceae
Functionally leafless , green, broom-like shrubs—most species growing to about 3-5’ tall and wide but some species are larger. Ephedras are gymnosperms, and like pines and junipers they put out tiny cones (separate males and females) usually in spring.
Full sun, moderate to low water with good drainage, most species hardy into the single digits °F or lower.
These plant is used as a tea which is very stimulant, used for energy and to help with asthma and allergies—ephedrine is an alkaloid that comes from Ephedra species.
The Ephedras produce naked seeds like the pines, but they form on a colored, cup-like structure called a perianth. Thus it superficially appears that these plants are an evolutionary link between the conifers and the true flowering plants. Most are native to challenging climates, both hot, dry, and many areas with cold weather. One species is native to the Himilayas at 13,000 ft. in elevation!
The 74 accepted species of Ephedra are widespread in many arid regions of the world, ranging across southwestern North America, southern Europe, northern Africa, southwest and central Asia, northern China and western South America. It is the only extant genus in its family, Ephedraceae, and order, Ephedrales, and one of the three living members of the division Gnetophyta alongside Gnetum and Welwitschia.
Photo of Ephedra viridis by Max Licher, SEINET
Ephedra aspera grows up to about 5’ tall. Found on desert slopes and flats, often on rocky or gravelly substrates from 1,000-4,000 ft. Photo by W. Terry Hunefeld, iNaturalist
Ephedra californica grows up to about 3’ tall. Found on dry slopes and fans to valley grasslands from 150-3,200 ft. Photo by W. Terry Hunefeld, iNaturalist
Ephedra nevadensis grows up to about 5’ tall. Found on dry, rocky slopes and hills, rarely in sandy flat areas; 2,300-6300 ft.Photo by upthemountain on iNaturalist
Ephedra torreyana grows up to 3' tall. Found on dry, rocky to sandy hillsides, from 1,500-6,500 ft. Photo by Jim Boone, iNaturalist
Ephedra trifurca grows up to about 6.5’ tall. Found on dry rocky slopes to flat sandy areas from 1,500-6,500 ft. Photo by CK Kelly, iNaturalist
Ephedra viridis grows up to about 3.5’ tall. Found on dry sandy and rocky slopes, from 2,500-8,500 ft. Photo by rainbowsend on iNaturalist