Ephedra aspera

Ephedra aspera
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Gnetophyta
Class: Gnetopsida
Order: Ephedrales
Family: Ephedraceae
Genus: Ephedra
Species: E. aspera
Binomial name
Ephedra aspera
Engelm. ex S.Wats.
Synonyms[1]
  • Ephedra nevadensis var. aspera (Engelm. ex S.Watson) L.D.Benson
  • Ephedra peninsularis I.M.Johnst.
  • Ephedra reedii Cory

Ephedra aspera is a species of Ephedra known by the common names rough jointfir, boundary ephedra, and pitamoreal.

It is native to the southwestern United States from California to Texas and parts of northern Mexico as far south as Zacatecas.[1][2] It is a resident of varied woodland and scrub plant communities.[3]

Description

Ephedra aspera is a highly branched shrub often exceeding 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height made up of many long yellow-gold twigs. Its small leaves are just a few millimeters long. Male plants bear pollen cones 4 to 7 millimeters long. Female plants may be darker to reddish in color, bearing seed cones which are slightly larger than those of the male plant and contain only one seed each.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ↑ Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map
  3. ↑ Jepson Manual Treatment: Ephedra aspera
  4. ↑ Flora of North America

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