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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Ephedra torreyana (Torrey's jointfir)
Anderson, Wynn

Ephedra torreyana

Ephedra torreyana S. Watson

Torrey's Jointfir, Torrey Joint-fir

Ephedraceae (Mormon-Tea Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: EPTO

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

 

From the Image Gallery

31 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Dioecious , Monoecious
Fruit Type: Cone
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Brown

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Not Applicable
Bloom Notes: Cones cream to yellow. Coning occurs in spring.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , NM , NV , TX , UT
Native Habitat: High elevation

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Saline tolerant, Rocky, Gypseous, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam Clay

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Ephedra torreyana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ephedra torreyana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ephedra torreyana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-08
Research By: TWC Staff

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