Ephedra aspera
Boundary ephedra, Boundary Ephedra
(c) W. Terry Hunefeld, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by W. Terry Hunefeld · licence
Family: Ephedraceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ephedra aspera (Boundary ephedra) is a native California shrub in the Ephedraceae family, recognized by . Key features: 2 bracts per node, free bracts, short broad seeds.
Boundary ephedra is a California native shrub found in southern Bristlecone Pine, San Jacinto, northeastern Sierra Nevada, and Desert bioregions in creosote-bush scrub and Joshua-tree woodland at elevations of 50 to 2,133 meters. Its stems are distinctive green to yellow, ranging from 30 to 200 centimeters tall, with small persistent scale-like leaves two millimeters long at each node. Growing with slender, glaucous branches that age from green to yellow, this shrub has a characteristically dark brown stem pith. Its minute leaves form small persistent sheaths that split and become swollen with age, creating a unique texture along the branching structure. The plant produces small seed cones 4.5 to 8 millimeters long with red-brown bracts that have delicate membranous margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species. Key features: 2 bracts per node, free bracts, short broad seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree woodland
Elevation: 50-2133 m
Outside California: to Texas, Mexico
How to tell it apart
vs Thamnosma: Ephedra has obvious joints on green stems; Thamnosma stems are smooth without joints.; vs Senna: Ephedra has tiny scale leaves that fall off; Senna has compound leaves with paired leaflets.; vs Lepidospartum: Ephedra stems have distinct joints at regular intervals; Lepidospartum stems are smooth and rush-like.; vs Spartium: Ephedra has jointed stems with nodes; Spartium has smooth, ridged stems and pea flowers.; vs Ericameria: Ephedra has obvious stem joints and scale leaves; Ericameria has narrow but normal leaves and daisy flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ephedra aspera native to California?
Yes. Ephedra aspera is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Ephedra aspera belong to?
Ephedra aspera is in the Ephedraceae family, genus Ephedra.
What habitat does Ephedra aspera grow in?
Ephedra aspera grows in Creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.