Dunbar Spring Neighborhood - Ephedra trifurca
Botanical Name: Ephedra trifurca
Common Names:
English: Mormon tea
Spanish: Canutillo
O'odham: Kubgam
Family: Ephedraceae
Rain Garden Zone: E. trifurca thrives in the top Rain Garden Zone. (1)
Reproduced with permission from "Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond" by Brad Lancaster, HarvestingRainwater.com
Flowering Season: March, April
Harvest Season: Early spring (5)
Characteristics: E. trifurca is a deciduous shrub growing to 1 to 6 ft in height. The erect, forked branches are yellowish-gray with spine-tipped leaves. Flowers are yellow.
Landscape Cultivation: E. trifurca is quite drought tolerant and should be planted in gravelly or sandy soils, with full sun exposure.
Ethnobotany:
Food:
As the common name suggests, a stimulating tea containing caffeine and trace amounts of ephedrine can be made by steeping the stems of the Mormon tea shrub, making it a great alternative to coffee (4).
Other:
Mormon tea has traditionally been used medicinally to treat a variety of illnesses and symptoms, including diabetes and pneumonia (4). The stems may be boiled and applied topically as a poltice for wounds and sores, especially those associated with syphilis. A tea infusion can be consumed to aid in stomach issues, kidney problems, and venerable diseases. Additionally, the stems can be dried, crushed, and used as a diuretic (3).
References:
- Lancaster, B. (2006) Rainwater harvesting for drylands and beyond. Tucson, AZ. RainSource Press.
- Wildflower.org
- Plants for a Future
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
- https://savorthesouthwest.blog/tag/ephedra-trifurca/
For more information on this plant, see the Campus Arboretum's Desert Landscaping site.
Go to the next tour stop: canyon hackberry page or Return to the main Dunbar Spring tour page
