Ephedra trifurca

Ephedra trifurca

Common Name: Mormon Tea, Longleaf Joint Fir
O’odham 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.

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

Arizona Distribution Map (USDA)