Biology:Ephedra funerea
| Death Valley jointfir | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Gnetophyta |
| Class: | Gnetopsida |
| Order: | Ephedrales |
| Family: | Ephedraceae |
| Genus: | Ephedra |
| Species: | E. funerea
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ephedra funerea Coville & C. V. Morton
| |
Ephedra funerea is a species of Ephedra, known by the common name Death Valley jointfir, Death Valley ephedra, or Mormon Tea.
It is native to the Mojave Desert of California, Arizona and Nevada. It is named after a population in the Funeral Mountains, in Death Valley National Park.[3][4]
Native Americans and Mormon pioneers drank a tea brewed from this plant called Mormon Tea or Indian Tea.
Description
The Ephedra funerea shrub is made up of erect twigs which are gray-green when new and age to gray and cracked. There are tiny leaves at nodes along the twigs. Male plants produce pollen cones at the nodes which are up to 8 millimeters long, and female plants produce seed cones which are slightly longer and may grow on stalks.[5][6]
References
- ↑ Bell, A.; Bachman, S. (2025). "Ephedra funerea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS.T201686A269898027.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/201686/269898027. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ↑ "Ephedra funerea". https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.141624.
- ↑ "Ephedra funerea Coville & C.V.Morton". https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:91130-2.
- ↑ "Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map". http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Ephedra%20funerea.png.
- ↑ "Ephedra funerea". http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?184,185,191.
- ↑ "Ephedra funerea Coville & C. V. Morton, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 25: 307. 1935.". http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500606.
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q5382145 entry
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