Ephedra aspera

Common Names

Boundary ephedra, pitamoreal (Stevenson 1993).

Taxonomic notes

Syn: Ephedra nevadensis Watson var. aspera (Engelmann ex Watson) Benson; E. peninsularis Johnston; E. reedii Cory (Stevenson 1993).

Description

"Shrubs erect, 0.5-1.5 m. Bark gray, cracked and fissured. Branches opposite or whorled, rigid, angle of divergence about 30°. Twigs pale to dark green, becoming yellow with age, not viscid, slightly to strongly scabrous, with numerous longitudinal grooves; internodes 1-6 cm. Terminal buds conic, 1-2 mm, apex obtuse. Leaves opposite (rarely in whorls of 3), 1-3(-5) mm, connate to 1/2-7/8 their length; bases thickened, brown, shredding with age, ± persistent; apex obtuse. Pollen cones 2 (rarely 1 or whorled) at node, obovoid, 4-7 mm, sessile or rarely on short peduncles; bracts opposite, 6-10 pairs, yellow to red-brown, obovate, 3-4 × 2-3 mm, membranous; bracteoles slightly exceeding bracts; sporangiophores 4-5 mm, 1/2 exserted, with 4-6 sessile to short-stalked (less than 1 mm) microsporangia. Seed cones usually 2 at node, ovoid, 6-10 mm, sessile or on short, scaly peduncles; bracts opposite, 5-7 pairs, circular, 4-7 × 2-4 mm, membranous, with red-brown thickened center and base, margins entire. Seed 1, ellipsoid, 5-8 × 2-4 mm, light brown to brown, smooth to slightly scabrous. ... Coning March-April" (Stevenson 1993).

Range

US: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas; Mexico (northern); 500-1800 m on dry rocky slopes, ravines, and fans (Stevenson 1993).

Big Tree

Oldest

Ethnobotany

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