Nevada Jointfir, Mormon Tea, Popotillo
Scientific Name: Ephedra nevadensis S. Wats.
Synonym: Ephedra antisyphilitica
Family: Ephedraceae
Nevada Jointfir (Ephedra nevadensis), U.S.D.A. Drawing, courtesy Hunt Institute
Sunset®: 2-13
USDA: 7-11
Sun Exposure: Full sun, tolerates reflected heat
Origin: Southwestern USA (Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah), Mexico , on dry slopes and hills at 2500 to 6500 feet elevation (700-1900 m)
Growth Habits: Shrub, slow growing to 1 to 5 feet tall (0.3-1.5 m); gray fissured bark; pale green to brownish green stems, almost leafless.
Watering Needs: Low water use
Propagation: Seeds in autumn
The branches are used fresh or dry to make a herbal tea. Its main active substance, ephedrin, increases the metabolism rate and is forbidden to the sale in the USA, as a herbal supplement, after a number of deaths by cardiac arrest.
Blooming Habits:
Dioecious, produces small cones in early spring.
Desert-Tropicals is dedicated to provide gardening advice, gardening ideas, and information about flower of all kind for landscape and collections.We try to check carefully the identification of the plants on the illustrations as well as the other information from the page, but occasionally errors do occur. if you notice anything that needs to be changed please contact us.Thanks.
© 1998-2020 Philippe Faucon, All Rights Reserved.