Mormon-tea Ephedraceae Ephedra spp.

Leaf:Opposite, but very few and scattered, very small (1/3 inch), scale-like, appressed against green stem and very inconspicuous.
Flower:Species is dioecious; yellow-brown, cone-like, 1/4 to 1/2 inch, occurring in small clusters at nodes, appearing in early spring.
Fruit:A small, 1/3 to 1/2 inch cone.
Twig:Most conspicuous part of the plant. It is almost entirely composed of yellow-green to blue-green twigs, branch repeatedly at nodes forming an upside down broom-like cluster.
Bark:Gray to reddish brown becoming finely fissured.
Form:Very unique dense cluster of green twigs (broom-like) apparently lacking foliage, reaching up to 3 feet in height.

leaf flower twig bark form map

Notes: