Wkraft33 (talk) 14:27, 4 October 2018 (UTC)Edits for project-to be proofed before submittalWkraft33 (talk) 14:27, 4 October 2018 (UTC)

Ephedra cutleri

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Ephedra cutleri, the Navajo ephedra or Cutler's jointfir, is a species of Ephedra that is native to the Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Nevada,

Wkraft33/new sandbox
 
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification  
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Gnetophyta
Class: Gnetopsida
Order: Ephedrales
Family: Ephedraceae
Genus: Ephedra
Species:
E. cutleri
Binomial name
Ephedra cutleri
Synonyms
  • Ephedra coryi var. viscida
  • Ephedra viridis var. viscida
  • Ephedra cutleri Peebles
  • Cutler's Joint-fir
  • Cutler's Mormon tea
  • Cutler's ephedra

Wyoming).[1][2]

Description

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The rhizomatous shrubs form erect clumps, .25–1.5 metres (0.82–4.92 ft) tall and 3–5 metres (9.8–16.4 ft) wide. It grows on flat and dry sandy areas, and occasionally on rocky slopes.[3] Anchored by the rhizomes and an advantageous root system, Ephedra cutleri leaves grow in an opposite orientation but can not sustain all growth. Because the leaves are too small to perform photosynthesis, it is conducted in the sticky stems of the plant.[4]

Cultivation

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In one study, E. cutleri was the major plant found in Northeastern Arizona where dry, loamy, fine sand surfaced layers of Sheppard series soils[5] dominate and form coppice dunes due their strong rhizomes.[6]

Uses

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A food source for animals, there are differing views as to whether the plant has any medicinal properties for humans with the exception of brewing Mormon tea.[4] Another source indicated the stems contain ephedrine which can be used to treat respiratory symptoms.[7]

Taxonomy

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The plant was originally described by Robert Hibbs Peebles in 1940. It was placed in section Ephedra sect. Asarca.[8]

Distribution

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USA (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY)[9][2]

Wetland Indicator

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Not determined[10]

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References

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  1. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ^ a b Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution maps
  3. ^ Ephedra cutleri in Flora of North America @ efloras.org
  4. ^ a b "Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Ephedra". www.swcoloradowildflowers.com. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  5. ^ "Official Series Description - SHEPPARD Series". soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  6. ^ Harmon S. Hodgkinson. “Relationship between Cutler Mormon-Tea [Ephedra Cutleri] and Coppice Dunes in Determining Range Trend in Northeastern Arizona.” Journal of Range Management, no. 3, 1983, p. 375. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2307/3898491.
  7. ^ "Ephedra cutleri (Cutler Morning-tea, Navajo Ephedra, Three-forked Ephedra)". www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  8. ^ Price, R. A. (1996). Systematics of the Gnetales: A review of morphological and molecular evidence. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 157(6): S40-S49.
  9. ^ "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  10. ^ "More Information and Sources | USDA PLANTS". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
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Al Schneider - http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com .

NatureServe Explorer - http://explorer.natureserve.org/index.htm

Integrated Taxonomic Information System - https://www.itis.gov/

USDA Natural resources Conservation Service - https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=EPCU