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Sonoran Desert Ephedra

Also known as Joint-Fir because the green stems appear segmented and these plants are indeed conifers. Yet another name is Mormon Tea because fresh growth can be brewed to make a mildly stimulating tea. Leaves, when present, are scale like. Bears separate male and female cones. A common component of the Sonoran Desert with several species.

Long-leaf Joint-fir	Ephedra trifurca	Rough Joint-fir	Ephedra aspera
Woody shrub with green stems that are spiny-tipped. Shreds of three leaves usu. present at stem nodes. Distinct cones in spring time. Detailed Description		Woody shrub with green twigs and gray-branched bark. Two, small nearly scale-like leaves per node. Seed, generally one per female cone. Twigs not spiny. Detailed Description
	Green Ephedra	Ephedra viridis
	Bright green leafless stems for much of year.. Detailed Description

Sonoran Desert Ephedra

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