| Ephedra cutleri | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Gnetophyta |
| Class: | Gnetopsida |
| Order: | Ephedrales |
| Family: | Ephedraceae |
| Genus: | Ephedra |
| Species: | E. cutleri |
| Binomial name | |
| Ephedra cutleri | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Ephedra cutleri, the Navajo ephedra or Cutler's jointfir, is a species of Ephedra that is native to the Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming). [1] [2]
The rhizomatous shrubs form erect clumps, .25–1.5 metres (0.82–4.92 ft) tall and 3–5 metres (9.8–16.4 ft) wide. It grows on flat and dry sandy areas, and occasionally on rocky slopes. [3] Anchored by the rhizomes and an advantageous root system, Ephedra cutleri leaves grow in an opposite orientation but can not sustain all growth. Because the leaves are too small to perform photosynthesis, it is conducted in the sticky stems of the plant. [4]
In one study, E. cutleri was the major plant found in Northeastern Arizona where dry, loamy, fine sand surfaced layers of Sheppard series soils [5] dominate and form coppice dunes due their strong rhizomes. [6]
Stabilized dunes are preferred at higher elevations. [7]
Evapotranspiration of waste water studies have been performed where E. cutleri is the predominant established plant species. Their adaptation to the arid conditions of the desert landscape provide ideal functionality of evaporating the deposited water. [8]
A food source for animals, there are differing views as to whether the plant has any medicinal properties for humans with the exception of brewing Mormon tea. [4] Another source indicated the stems contain ephedrine which can be used to treat respiratory symptoms. [9]
Native Americans in the Four Corners region have made use of the plant in various ways. The seeds were sometimes roasted and ground into flour, while the plant could also be used for making light tan or reddish dyes, as well as used in the process of tanning animal hides. [10]
The plant was originally described by Robert Hibbs Peebles in 1940. It was placed in section Ephedra sect. Asarca. [11]
The formation of the mountains and arid climatic variation conditions of the Southwestern United States and provides and ideal environment for the Ephedra species to develop. E. cutleri has diverged along with other variants such as E. californica and E. viridis during the Late Miocene and Pliocene epochs from one of the original Ephedra species E. distachya. [7]
USA (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY) [12] [2]
Dispersal method is normally small mammals. [7]
Not determined [13]
Ephedra distachya is a shrub in the family Ephedraceae that stands about 25 cm to 50 cm high. The shrub grows in many parts of the world, including southern and central Europe and western and central Asia. Its local names include somlatha. Ephedra distachya lives on grey dunes which are fixed and stable sand dunes that are covered in continuous vegetation.
Ephedra is a genus of gymnosperm shrubs. The various species of Ephedra are widespread in many arid regions of the world, ranging across southwestern North America, southern Europe, northern Africa, southwest and central Asia, northern China and western South America. It is the only extant genus in its family, Ephedraceae, and order, Ephedrales, and one of the three living members of the division Gnetophyta alongside Gnetum and Welwitschia.
Monarda fistulosa, the wild bergamot or bee balm, is a wildflower in the mint family Lamiaceae, widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America. This plant, with showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental. The species is quite variable, and several subspecies or varieties have been recognized within it.
Physaria fendleri is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae known by several common names, including Fendler's bladderpod, popweed, and lesquerella.
Ephedra californica is a species of Ephedra, known by the common names California jointfir, California ephedra, desert tea, Mormon tea, and cañatillo.
Ephedra funerea is a species of Ephedra, known by the common name Death Valley jointfir, Death Valley ephedra, or Mormon Tea.
Ephedra trifurca is a species of Ephedra known by the common names longleaf jointfir and Mexican tea.
Ephedra viridis, known by the common names green Mormon tea, green ephedra, and Indian tea, is a species of Ephedra. It is indigenous to the Western United States, where it is a member of varied scrub, woodland, desert, and open habitats. It grows at 900–2,300 metres (3,000–7,500 ft) elevations.
Ephedra fasciculata is a species of plant in the Ephedraceae family. Common names are Arizona ephedra, Arizona jointfir, and desert Mormon-tea.
Ephedra torreyana, with common names Torrey's jointfir or Torrey's Mormon tea, is a species of Ephedra that is native to the deserts and scrublands of the Southwestern United States and to the State of Chihuahua and northern Mexico.
Ephedra nevadensis, commonly known as Nevada ephedra, gray ephedra, Mormon tea and Nevada jointfir, is a species of gymnosperm native to dry areas of western North America.
E. californica may refer to:
Hudsonia tomentosa is a species of flowering plant in the rockrose family known by the common names woolly beachheather, beach heather, and sand heather. It is native to northeastern North America, including central and eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.
Phyllanthus warnockii, the sand reverchonia, is a plant species of the family Phyllanthaceae. It is a sand dune annual and confined to the Southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. It is poisonous to mammals. Members of the Hopi Tribe in northeastern Arizona sometimes traditionally used the berries to oil and season piki cooking slabs. It was also used by the Hopi medicinally in cases of postpartum hemorrhage.
Ephedra pedunculata, common name vine Mormon tea or Comida de Vívora, is a plant species native to southern Texas and to Mexico as far south as Zacatecas. It grows in sandy or rocky slopes and outcrops.
Hilaria rigida is a species of clumping perennial grass that is widespread in California deserts. It is commonly known as big galleta. It is a monocot in the Hilaria genus of the grass family (Poaceae).
Eremocrinum is a monotypic genus of plants in the subfamily Agavoideae containing the single species Eremocrinum albomarginatum. It is known by the common names Utah solitaire lily, Intermountain false-wheatgrass, desert lily, lonely lily, and sand lily. It is native to the western United States, where it is known from Arizona and Utah.
The flora of the Colorado Plateau and Canyonlands region is generally characterized by plant adaptations to the arid conditions of the region, and a wide variation of plant communities from wide variations in elevation and soil types. The elevation variation results in temperature variation. Differing soil types are largely due to erosion of different sedimentary layers in the canyons, from the layers at lowest point of canyons of the Colorado River network, to the top layers of the plateau. Exceptions to flora adapted to aridity occur in lowland riparian areas, at springs, and in hanging gardens.
Ephedra coryi, also known as Cory's joint-fir, is a rare, reed-like gymnosperm native to sandy, semi-arid areas of the North American South and Southwest.
Cycladenia humilis var. jonesii, known as Jones cycladenia or Jones waxy dogbane, is a threatened variety of Cycladenia humilis. It is one of three varieties of the species, the other two occurring in California.
Al Schneider - http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com .
NatureServe Explorer - http://explorer.natureserve.org/index.htm Archived 2018-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
Integrated Taxonomic Information System - https://www.itis.gov/
USDA Natural resources Conservation Service - https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=EPCU
