Ephedra foeminea
Jointfir
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Family: Ephedraceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Ephedra foeminea (Jointfir) is a non-native California shrub in the Ephedraceae family, recognized by . Key features: climbing habit, red fleshy cones, coastal oak woodland habitat.
Jointfir is a naturalized shrub found in southern California coastal regions in oak woodland at elevations of 600 to 750 meters. This distinctive plant grows as a climbing or hanging shrub with gray-green twigs that age to reddish-brown and gradually turn gray. Growing up to 5 meters tall, it features slender branches with small scale-like leaves about 2.5 millimeters long at each node. Its unique seed cones are narrow-cylindric with fleshy, reddish bracts that partially fuse together, containing one or two smooth seeds. The plant's architectural growth habit and color-changing stems make it a visually interesting component of its woodland habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species. Key features: climbing habit, red fleshy cones, coastal oak woodland habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Oak woodland
Elevation: 600-750 m
Outside California: eastern Mediterranean, western Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Somalia
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 foeminea native to California?
No. Ephedra foeminea is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Ephedra foeminea belong to?
Ephedra foeminea is in the Ephedraceae family, genus Ephedra.
What habitat does Ephedra foeminea grow in?
Ephedra foeminea grows in Oak 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.