Ephedra aspera

Engelmann ex S. Watson

Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 18: 157. 1883.

Common names: Boundary ephedra pitamoreal
Synonyms: Ephedra nevadensis var. aspera (Engelmann ex S. Watson) L. D. Benson Ephedra peninsularis I. M. Johnston Ephedra reedii Cory
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 2.

Shrubs erect, 0.5–1.5 m. Bark gray, cracked and fissured. Branches opposite or whorled, rigid, angle of divergence about 30°. Twigs pale to dark green, becoming yellow with age, not viscid, slightly to strongly scabrous, with numerous longitudinal grooves; internodes 1–6 cm. Terminal buds conic, 1–2 mm, apex obtuse. Leaves opposite (rarely in whorls of 3), 1–3(–5) mm, connate to 1/2–7/8 their length; bases thickened, brown, shredding with age, ± persistent; apex obtuse. Pollen cones 2 (rarely 1 or whorled) at node, obovoid, 4–7 mm, sessile or rarely on short peduncles; bracts opposite, 6–10 pairs, yellow to red-brown, obovate, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, membranous; bracteoles slightly exceeding bracts; sporangiophores 4–5 mm, 1/2 exserted, with 4–6 sessile to short-stalked (less than 1 mm) microsporangia. Seed cones usually 2 at node, ovoid, 6–10 mm, sessile or on short, scaly peduncles; bracts opposite, 5–7 pairs, circular, 4–7 × 2–4 mm, membranous, with red-brown thickened center and base, margins entire. Seed 1, ellipsoid, 5–8 × 2–4 mm, light brown to brown, smooth to slightly scabrous.


Phenology: Coning March–April.
Habitat: Dry rocky slopes, ravines, and fans
Elevation: 500–1800 m

Distribution

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Ariz., Calif., N.Mex., Tex., n Mexico.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Ephedra aspera"
Dennis Wm. Stevenson +
Engelmann ex S. Watson +
Boundary ephedra +  and pitamoreal +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, N.Mex. +, Tex. +  and n Mexico. +
500–1800 m +
Dry rocky slopes, ravines, and fans +
Coning March–April. +
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts +
Ephedra nevadensis var. aspera +, Ephedra peninsularis +  and Ephedra reedii +
Ephedra aspera +
species +