Death Valley Basin and Dune Plants

A leafless, jointed gymnosperm shrub with green photosynthetic stems and tiny scale-like leaves; historically brewed as a tea. In Death Valley it occurs on dry slopes and washes, where it indicates coarse rocky soils and provides browse for small mammals and birds.

Look for upright, photosynthetic green stems made of conspicuous joints (nodes) with tiny scale-like leaves; plants lack broad leaves and have a twiggy, bamboo-like silhouette.

Common Confusions

• Saltbush Atriplex spp. Saltbushes have leafy, broader foliage; Ephedra has leafless, segmented green stems and a distinctive jointed look.
• Young Tamarisk Tamarix ramosissima Young tamarisk shows fine branching and leaves whereas Ephedra's stems are thicker and jointed without the feathery foliage.