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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 nevadensis (Nevada jointfir)
Reveal, James L.

Ephedra nevadensis

Ephedra nevadensis S. Watson

Nevada Jointfir, Nevada Joint-fir

Ephedraceae (Mormon-Tea Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: EPNE

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A 5 ft. shrub with yellowish-gray, erect-spreading branches. Small, paired leaves split and fall off early leaving a leafless, broom-like shrub. Tiny, individual, yellow to light-brown flowers cluster together to form a cone-like inflorescence.

 

From the Image Gallery

24 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Dioecious
Fruit Type: Cone
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Brown
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Reproductive structures consist of pollen and seed cones. Bloom color refers to cones. Bloom time refers to coning period.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NV , OR , UT
Native Distribution: S.e. CA to UT & AZ
Native Habitat: Deserts; rocky slopes

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Arid, sandy or rocky soils.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Seeds are eaten by mountain quail.The plant provides winter browse for large and small mammals.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Grown from seed. Seeds germinate best at alternating termperatures with quite cold nighttime temps. Seedlings grow rapidly and can be easily transplanted.
Seed Collection: On good seed years, abundant collections of seeds can be obtained by flailing the fruit branches over an open tray.
Seed Treatment: Hot water and 3 weeks stratification improve germination.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

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

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
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 nevadensis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ephedra nevadensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ephedra nevadensis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-18
Research By: TWC Staff

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