Ephedra viridis

Coville

Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 4: 220. 1893.

Common names: Green ephedra
Endemic
Synonyms: Ephedra nevadensis var. pluribracteata Palmer ex Stapf Ephedra nevadensis var. viridis (Coville) M. E. Jones
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 2.

Shrubs erect, 0.5–1 m. Bark gray, cracked and irregularly fissured. Branches alternate or whorled, rigid, angle of divergence about 30°. Twigs bright green to yellow-green, becoming yellow with age, not viscid, ridges between longitudinal grooves barely papillate, smooth; internodes 1–5 cm. Terminal buds conic, 1–2 mm, apex obtuse. Leaves opposite, 2–5 mm, connate to 1/2–3/4 their length, not photosynthetic; bases thickened, brown, persistent, becoming hard, enlarged, and black; apex setaceous. Pollen cones 2–several at node, obovoid, 5–7 mm, sessile; bracts opposite, 6–10 pairs, light yellow and slightly reddened, ovate, 2–4 × 2–3 mm, membranous, slightly connate at base; bracteoles slightly exceeding bracts; sporangiophores 2–4 mm, 1/4–1/2 exserted, with 5–8 sessile to nearly sessile microsporangia. Seed-cones 2–several at node, obovoid, 6–10 mm, sessile or on short, scaly peduncles; bracts opposite, 4–8 pairs, ovate, 4–7 × 2–4 mm, membranous or papery, with yellow center and base, margins entire. Seeds 2, ellipsoid, 5–8 × 2–4 mm, light-brown to brown, smooth. 2n = 28.


Phenology: Coning spring.
Habitat: Dry rocky slopes and canyon walls
Elevation: 800–2500 m

Distribution

V2 506-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"/2-3/4" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.

... more about "Ephedra viridis"
setaceous +  and obtuse +
Dennis Wm. Stevenson +
Coville +
fissured +
black +  and brown +
persistent +
enlarged +
light yellow and slightly reddened +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
papery +  and membranous +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
whorled +  and alternate +
yellowish green;olive-green +
Green ephedra +
on short , scaly peduncles +  and sessile +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
on short to long peduncle +, sessile +  and compound +
subtending +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, Oreg. +, Utah +  and Wyo. +
800–2500 m +
Dry rocky slopes and canyon walls +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
ephemeral +
connate +
not photosynthetic +
scale-like +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
sessile +  and nearly sessile +
single-integumented +
Coning spring. +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
whorled +, opposite +  and overlapping +
fleshy +, papery +  and membranous +
Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. +
ellipsoid;ovoid obovoid or nearly globose +
light-brown +  and brown +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
smooth to scabrous +
ellipsoid +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
Ephedra nevadensis var. pluribracteata +  and Ephedra nevadensis var. viridis +
Ephedra viridis +
species +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
not viscid +
yellow +, bright green +  and yellow-green +