Order Ephederales
Family Ephedraceae
Genus Ephedra

A desert shrub commonly known as Mormon tea of the Southwestern Desserts. The leaves are small and scalelike and without chlorophyll. Photosynthesis is restricted to the green slender stems. The plants are dioecious.

Credit: http://online.anu.edu.au/Forestry/teaching/t6/bd.htm



Left: Twigs with male cones.
Right: Twigs with female cones
Credit: http://www.rt66.com/hrbmoore/Images/ New/Ephedra_nevadensis-1.jpg

Photos by Mini Kamp


















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