Ephedra cutleri

Ephedra cutleri, the Navajo ephedra or Cutler's jointfir, is a species of "Ephedra" that is native to the Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming).
Description.
The rhizomatous shrubs form erect clumps, tall and wide. It grows on flat and dry sandy areas, and occasionally on rocky slopes. 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.
Cultivation.
In one study, "E. cutleri" was the major plant found in Northeastern Arizona where dry, loamy, fine sand surfaced layers of Sheppard series soils dominate and form coppice dunes due their strong rhizomes.
Stabilized dunes are preferred at higher elevations.
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.
Uses.
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. Another source indicated the stems contain ephedrine which can be used to treat respiratory symptoms.
Taxonomy.
The plant was originally described by Robert Hibbs Peebles in 1940. It was placed in section "Ephedra sect. Asarca".
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".
Distribution.
USA (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY)
Dispersal method is normally small mammals.
Wetland Indicator.
Not determined
External links.
Al Schneider - http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com .
NatureServe Explorer - http://explorer.natureserve.org/index.htm
Integrated Taxonomic Information System - https://www.itis.gov/
USDA Natural resources Conservation Service - https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=EPCU