Ephedra pedunculata

Engelmann ex S. Watson

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

Common names: Clap-weed
Conservation concern
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 2.

Shrubs vinelike, trailing or clambering, 6–7 m. Bark gray, slightly cracked and fissured. Branches alternate (rarely whorled), lax, angle of divergence about 55°. Twigs gray-green, becoming green, then yellow-green with age, glaucous, with several moderately deep longitudinal grooves; internodes 1–8 cm. Terminal buds attenuate, 1–3 mm. Leaves opposite, 1–3 mm, connate to 2/3–7/8 their length; bases splitting at margins, persistent; apex obtuse. Pollen cones 1–2 at node, lanceoloid, 4–8 mm, sessile or on short to long, smooth peduncles; bracts opposite, 6–12 pairs, light yellow to reddish, obovate, 2–4 × 2–3 mm, membranous, free or slightly connate at base; bracteoles barely exceeding bracts; sporangiophores 3–5 mm, exserted to 1/2 their length, with 4–6 long-stalked (1–2 mm) microsporangia. Seed cones 1–2 at node, ovoid, 6–10 mm, on short to long, smooth peduncles; bracts opposite, 3–6 pairs, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, ovate, connate to 1/8–7/8 their length, inner pairs becoming succulent and red when ripe. Seeds 2, ellipsoid, 4–10 × 2–4 mm, brown, smooth.


Phenology: Coning midwinter–early spring.
Habitat: Dry, sandy to rocky areas and slopes
Elevation: 100–1000 m

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.