Nevada ephedra

Ephedra antisyphilitica S. Watson 1871, not Berlandier ex C. A. Meyer 1846; E. antisyphilitica S. Watson var. pedunculata S. Watson; E. nevadensis subvar. paucibracteata Stapf

Shrubs erect, 0.25--1.5 m. Bark gray, fissured. Branches alternate or whorled, rigid, angle of divergence about 45°. Twigs pale green, becoming yellow with age, not viscid, glaucous, with numerous longitudinal grooves; internodes 1--6 cm. Terminal buds conic, 1--3 mm, apex obtuse. Leaves opposite (rarely in whorls of 3), 2--4(--8) mm, connate to 1/2--3/4 their length; bases thickened, brown, completely deciduous; apex obtuse. Pollen cones 1--several at node, ellipsoid, 4--8 mm, sessile or on short peduncles with 2 pairs of basal bracts; bracts opposite, 5--9 pairs, yellow to light brown, obovate, 3--4 × 2--3 mm, membranous; bracteoles slightly exceeding bracts; sporangiophores 3--5 mm, exserted to 1/4--1/2 their length, with 6--9 sessile to short-stalked (less than 1 mm) microsporangia. Seed cones 1--several at node, nearly globose, 5--11 mm, on long peduncles, with 1--2 pairs of basal bracts; bracts opposite, 3--5 pairs, nearly circular, 4--8 × 3--6 mm, herbaceous, with light brown to yellow-green center, occasionally pinkish tinged, margins entire. Seeds (1--)2, ellipsoid, 6--9 × 2--4 mm, brown, smooth. 2 n = 14, 28.

Coning late winter--midspring. Dry, rocky slopes and hills, rarely in sandy flat areas; 700--1900 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev., Oreg., Utah.