Commonly called “Mormon tea,” there are many species of ephedra
(ef-FED-rah) growing throughout the Southwest. This yellow-green,
stringy-stemmed shrub with tiny, scale-like leaves, is usually 3 to 4
feet tall, but sometimes reaches a height of 12 feet. Its small,
fragrant, springtime flowers grow in dense clusters that attract
insects. Some species provide winter forage for cattle and are said to
be browsed by bighorn sheep. Pioneers brewed a palatable drink from the
dried stems. Certain Indian tribes considered the brew a tonic,
beneficial for treatment of syphilis and other diseases. The drug,
ephedrine, comes from a Chinese member of this genus.
_Ephedra trifurca_ Jointfir Family
[Illustration: LONGLEAF EPHEDRA]