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Nevada Ephedra, Nevada jointfir, Nevada Mormon tea

Habit Shrubs erect, 0.25–1.5 m.
Bark

gray, fissured.

Branches

alternate or whorled, rigid, angle of divergence about 45°.

Twigs

pale green, becoming yellow with age, not viscid, glaucous, with numerous longitudinal grooves;

internodes 1–6 cm.

Leaves

opposite (rarely in whorls of 3), 2–4(–8) mm, connate to 1/2–3/4 their length;

bases thickened, brown, completely deciduous;

apex obtuse.

Pollen cones

1–several at node, ellipsoid, 4–8 mm, sessile or on short peduncles with 2 pairs of basal bracts;

bracts opposite, 5–9 pairs, yellow to light brown, obovate, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, membranous;

bracteoles slightly exceeding bracts;

sporangiophores 3–5 mm, exserted to 1/4–1/2 their length, with 6–9 sessile to short-stalked (less than 1 mm) microsporangia.

Seed(s)

cones 1–several at node, nearly globose, 5–11 mm, on long peduncles, with 1–2 pairs of basal bracts;

bracts opposite, 3–5 pairs, nearly circular, 4–8 × 3–6 mm, herbaceous, with light brown to yellow-green center, occasionally pinkish tinged, margins entire.

Terminal

buds conic, 1–3 mm, apex obtuse.

2n

= 14, 28.

Ephedra nevadensis

Phenology Coning late winter–midspring.
Habitat Dry, rocky slopes and hills, rarely in sandy flat areas
Elevation 700–1900 m (2300–6200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; NV; OR; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Source FNA vol. 2.
Parent taxa Ephedraceae > Ephedra
Sibling taxa
E. antisyphilitica, E. aspera, E. californica, E. coryi, E. cutleri, E. fasciculata, E. funerea, E. pedunculata, E. torreyana, E. trifurca, E. viridis
Synonyms E. antisyphilitica, E. antisyphilitica var. pedunculata, E. nevadensis var. paucibracteata
Name authority S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14: 298. (1879)
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