Ephedra cutleri

The rhizomatous shrubs form erect clumps, {{convert|.25|-|1.5|m|ft}} tall and {{convert|3|-|5|m|ft}} wide. It grows on flat and dry sandy areas, and occasionally on rocky slopes.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500604 Ephedra cutleri in Flora of North America @ efloras.org] 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Yellow%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/ephedra.htm|title=Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Ephedra|website=www.swcoloradowildflowers.com|access-date=2018-10-05}}

In one study, E. cutleri was the major plant found in Northeastern Arizona where dry, loamy, fine sand surfaced layers of Sheppard series soils{{Cite web|url=https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/S/SHEPPARD.html|title=Official Series Description - SHEPPARD Series|website=soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov|access-date=2018-11-14}} dominate and form coppice dunes due their strong rhizomes.{{cite journal |last1=Hodgkinson |first1=Harmon S. |title=Relationship between Cutler Mormon-Tea [Ephedra cutleri] and Coppice Dunes in Determining Range Trend in Northeastern Arizona |journal=Journal of Range Management |date=May 1983 |volume=36 |issue=3 |pages=375–377 |doi=10.2307/3898491 |jstor=3898491 |hdl=10150/645912 |hdl-access=free }}

Stabilized dunes are preferred at higher elevations.{{cite journal |last1=Loera |first1=Israel |last2=Sosa |first2=Victoria |last3=Ickert-Bond |first3=Stefanie M. |title=Diversification in North American arid lands: Niche conservatism, divergence and expansion of habitat explain speciation in the genus Ephedra |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |date=November 2012 |volume=65 |issue=2 |pages=437–450 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2012.06.025 |pmid=22776548 }}

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.{{cite journal |last1=Glenn |first1=Edward P. |last2=Jarchow |first2=Christopher J. |last3=Waugh |first3=W. Joseph |title=Evapotranspiration dynamics and effects on groundwater recharge and discharge at an arid waste disposal site |journal=Journal of Arid Environments |date=October 2016 |volume=133 |pages=1–9 |doi=10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.05.003 |bibcode=2016JArEn.133....1G |doi-access=free }}

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.

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.[https://www.nps.gov/azru/learn/nature/native-plant-trail-guide-shrubs-and-trees.htm National Park Service - Aztec Ruins, s.v. Jointfir - Ephedra spp.]

The plant was originally described by Robert Hibbs Peebles in 1940. It was placed in section Ephedra sect. Asarca.{{cite journal |last1=Price |first1=Robert A. |title=Systematics of the Gnetales: A Review of Morphological and Molecular Evidence |journal=International Journal of Plant Sciences |date=November 1996 |volume=157 |issue=S6 |pages=S40–S49 |doi=10.1086/297402 |jstor=2475207 |s2cid=85382873 }}

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.

USA (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY){{Cite web|url=https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=EPCU|title=Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin|website=www.wildflower.org|access-date=2018-10-06}}[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Ephedra%20cutleri.png Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution maps]

Dispersal method is normally small mammals.

Not determined{{Cite web|url=https://plants.usda.gov/wetinfo.html#new_regions|title=More Information and Sources {{!}} USDA PLANTS|website=plants.usda.gov|access-date=2018-10-07}}

{{Reflist}}

Al Schneider - http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com .

NatureServe Explorer - http://explorer.natureserve.org/index.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128011919/http://explorer.natureserve.org/index.htm |date=2018-11-28 }}

Integrated Taxonomic Information System - https://www.itis.gov/

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - {{PLANTS |symbol=EPCU |taxon=Ephedra cutleri}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q5382141}}

{{-}}

cutleri

Category:North American desert flora

Category:Flora of the Southwestern United States

Category:Plants described in 1940

Category:Plant dyes