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: 

  1. Lancaster, B. (2006) Rainwater harvesting for drylands and beyond. Tucson, AZ. RainSource Press.
  2. Wildflower.org
  3. Plants for a Future
  4.  Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
  5. https://savorthesouthwest.blog/tag/ephedra-trifurca/

 

For more information on this plant, see the Campus Arboretum's Desert Landscaping site. 

 

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