 | Rough Ephedra, Boundary Ephedra, Popotillo Ephedra aspera (Ephedra nevadensis var. aspera) Ephedraceae Rough ephedra grows on dry rocky slopes and plains in the Trans-Pecos, western Edwards Plateau, Webb County on the Rio Grande Plains, and west to Arizona and California. It grows to about 4 feet tall, with opposite, erect, yellowish to dark green young stems, some of which are smooth but some which have minute papillae and are rough to the touch. Older stems are yellowish to gray, thicker, with lengthwise fissures. Pairs of flowers appear at the nodes in April, although the female's may be sometimes whorled or solitary. Rough ephedra is similar to Cory ephedra, E. coryi, but is distinguished from it by its rough stems, one-seeded female cone, and more southern and western distribution. Aspera refers to the rough stems. Plant Habit or Use: small shrub Exposure: sun Flower Color: yellow or brown (male), red to brown (female) Blooming Period: spring Fruit Characteristics: small cone with one seed Height: 1 to 3 1/2 feet Width: 1 to 3 1/2 feet Plant Character: evergreen Heat Tolerance: very high Water Requirements:
Soil Requirements: neutral Additional Comments:
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