Mormon-tea Ephedraceae Ephedra spp. L. Listen to the Latin   symbol: EPHED
Other Fact Sheets
Leaf: Opposite, but very few and scattered, very small (1/3 inch), scale-like, appressed against green stem and very inconspicuous.
Flower: Dioecious; yellow-brown, cone-like, 1/4 to 1/2 inch, occurring in small clusters at nodes, appearing in early spring.
Fruit: A small, 1/3 to 1/2 inch cone.
Twig: Most conspicuous part of the plant. It is almost entirely composed of yellow-green to blue-green twigs, branch repeatedly at nodes forming an upside down broom-like cluster.
Bark: Gray to reddish brown becoming finely fissured.
Form: Very unique dense cluster of green twigs (broom-like) apparently lacking foliage, reaching up to 3 feet in height. 
No range map exists for this species. See a map of the states in which Ephedra spp. can be found (opens a new window). USDAFS Additional Silvics - USDA Plants Database
Ephedra spp. is native to North America.

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