Ephedra sp.
Ephedra, mormon tea, Mormon Tea
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Ephedraceae · Type: Shrub · Variable; species dependent
Ephedra sp. (Ephedra) is a non-native California shrub in the Ephedraceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Ephedra sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Ephedra sp. belong to?
Ephedra sp. is in the Ephedraceae family, genus Ephedra.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.