• NSF NEON | Open Data to Understand our Ecosystems
  • Biorepository Data Portal

  • Home
  • Search
    • Sample search
    • Map search
    • Dynamic Species List
    • Taxonomic Explorer
  • Images
    • Image Browser
    • Image Search
  • Datasets
    • Research Datasets and Special Collections
    • Carabidae Checklists with Keys
    • Checklist: Research Sites - Invertebrates
    • Checklist: Research Sites - Plants
    • Checklist: Research Sites - Vertebrates
  • Sample Use
    • Sample Use Policy
    • Sample Request
    • Sample Archival Request
    • Data Usage Policy
    • Dataset Publishing
  • Additional Information
    • Tutorials and Help
    • Biorepository Staff
    • About NEON
    • NEON Data Portal
    • ASU Biocollections
    • About Symbiota
  • Getting Started
Login New Account Sitemap
Ephedra trifurca Torr. ex S.Watson  

Explore 3 occurrences

Family: Ephedraceae
longleaf jointfir
Ephedra trifurca image
E. Makings
  • FNA
  • Field Guide
  • Resources
Dennis Wm. Stevenson in Flora of North America (vol. 2)
Shrubs erect, 0.5--5 m. Bark gray, cracked and irregularly fissured. Branches alternate or whorled, rigid, angle of divergence about 30°. Twigs pale green, becoming yellow, then gray with age, glaucous, with numerous very fine longitudinal grooves; internodes 3--10 cm. Terminal buds spinelike, to 10 mm. Leaves in whorls of 3, 5--15 mm, connate to 1/2--3/4 their length; bases becoming gray and shredded with age; apex spinose. Pollen cones 1--several at node, obovoid, 6--10 mm, on short, scaly peduncles; bracts in 8--12 whorls of 3, reddish brown, obovate, slightly clawed, 3--4 × 2--3 mm, membranous; bracteoles nearly equaling bracts; sporangiophores 4--5 mm, exserted to 1/4 their length, with 4--5 short-stalked microsporangia. Seed cones 1--several at node, obovoid, 10--15 mm, on short, scaly peduncles (rarely sessile); bracts in 6--9 whorls of 3, circular, 8--12 × 8--12 mm, papery, translucent with reddish brown center and base, base clawed, margins entire. Seeds 1(--3), ellipsoid, 8--15 × 1.5--3 mm, light brown, smooth. Coning late winter--early spring. Dry rocky slopes to flat sandy areas; 500--2000 m; Ariz., Calif., N.Mex., Tex.; Mexico in Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora. The hybrid Ephedra × intermixta is discussed under E . torreyana.

Wiggins 1964, Benson and Darrow 1981, Kearney and Peebles 1981, Turner et al. 1995
Common Name: longleaf jointfir Duration: Perennial Nativity: Native Lifeform: Shrub General: Erect, yellowish green shrub 0.5-2 m tall, with very fine longitudinal grooves, straight branches, alternate or whorled, 1.5-3.5 mm in diameter; angle of divergence about 30 degrees; spinose tipped branches. Needles: Persistent leaf scales, sheathing to about middle or above, 5-15 mm long, acuminate to acerose, becoming white and shredded. Cones: Pollen cones sessile, staminate obovate, 6-10 mm long, with 8-12 whorls of 3 thin, membranous bracts; bracts of ovulate cones in 8-10 whorls, membranous, obovate, 10-14 mm long, sessile or short-pedunculate, mature bracts orbicular, 8-12 mm long, reddish brown in center and toward base, translucent yellowish marginally, entire. Seeds: Seed cones one to several at nodes, seeds tetragonal in cross section, 9-15 mm long, 1.5-3 mm wide, equaling bracts, light brown, smooth. Ecology: Found on dry rocky slopes to flat sandy areas from 1,500-6,500 ft (457-1981 m); flowers late winter-early spring. Distribution: s CA, AZ, NM, s TX; south to n MEX. Notes: Green twigs end in a spinose tip, unique among the Ephedra. Leaves and bracts in threes are helpful in separating this species. With age the leaves become white and shredded. Ethnobotany: Used for sores, stomach troubles, kidneys and against venereal disease, often made into stimulant tea. Etymology: Ephedra is from Greek ephedra, used by Pliny for common mare's tail, while trifurca means three-forked. Synonyms: None Editor: SBuckley 2010, FSCoburn 2015
Ephedra trifurca
Open Interactive Map
Ephedra trifurca image
Liz Makings
Ephedra trifurca image
Patrick Alexander
Ephedra trifurca image
Patrick Alexander
Ephedra trifurca image
Patrick Alexander
Ephedra trifurca image
Patrick Alexander
Ephedra trifurca image
Patrick Alexander
Ephedra trifurca image
Anthony Mendoza
Ephedra trifurca image
Fred Fisher
Ephedra trifurca image
Anthony Mendoza
Ephedra trifurca image
Anthony Mendoza
Ephedra trifurca image
Ries Lindley
Click to Display
12 Total Images
NSF NEON | Open Data to Understand our Ecosystems The National Ecological Observatory Network is a major facility fully funded by the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.