Ephedra torreyana
Torrey's Mormon- tea, Torrey's Mormon-tea
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Ephedraceae · Type: Shrub
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Ephedra torreyana (Torrey's Mormon- tea) is a California shrub in the Ephedraceae family.
Torrey's mormon-tea is a California native shrub found in southern California's desert mountains and Mojave Desert regions in desert scrub and pinyon-juniper woodland at elevations of 1,000 to 1,800 meters. Not producing traditional flowers, this plant is a dioecious gymnosperm with green to yellowish-green photosynthetic stems that are slender and segmented. Growing as an erect to spreading shrub 30 to 100 centimeters tall with multiple branching stems, it forms dense, intricate clumps in arid landscapes. Its small, scale-like leaves are reduced to tiny brownish triangular structures at stem joints, giving the plant a distinctive wiry and minimalist appearance. The plant produces small cones at stem nodes, which serve as its reproductive structures in place of typical flowers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Differentiators are not available at this time.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
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
What plant family does Ephedra torreyana belong to?
Ephedra torreyana is in the Ephedraceae family, genus Ephedra.
Is Ephedra torreyana rare or endangered?
Ephedra torreyana carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S1.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: CDFW CNDDB
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.