This page shows close-up photographs of the unusual reproductive structures of Ephedra.  Ephedras are almost always "dioecious"; they bear male reproductive bodies on one plant and female on another.

    Ephedra seeds are eaten by many small rodents.

More Ephedra photographs.

Semi-desert. Sandy flats.  Spring.
Chaco Canyon National Historic Park, New Mexico, April 11, 2007.

Male cones swell on one stem as tiny leaves emerge on the other stem.  Notice the grains of sand on the stems indicating that the stems are viscid, a key in distinguishing this species from all other species, including its close look-alike, E. viridis.  Notice also the spring green color of the new growth at right versus the more yellow-green growth of the stem at left.

Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, woodlands, shrublands.  Spring.
McElmo Canyon, Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, April 6, 2005.

The blue-green color of E. Torreyana in the foreground and the mess of intermeshed stems in the background, are typical of E. torreyana.

Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, woodlands, shrublands.  Spring.
Corona Arch Trail, Utah, April 13, 2005.  Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 25, 2007.

In the top photograph, male cone-like structures open to disperse their spores.  In the middle photograph, female structures are ready to receive the spores.  And in the bottom photograph, darker green seeds mature and spread open the lighter green female structures which have protected them while they mature.

Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, woodlands, shrublands.  Spring.
Behind the Rocks, Utah, April, 15, 2008,
Colorado River Canyon Moab, Utah, April 13, 2005, 
Canyons of Ancients Monument, April 27, 2005,
Hidden Valley Trail, May 10, 2007.

Ephedra viridis grows green, straight, and tall.  Early spring brings a yellowing of Ephedras as male floral parts grow and disperse their spores 

and as female parts open to receive the spores.  The two pictures at left and the top picture above, show male cones; each cone is about one quarter inch in diameter.  The picture immediately above shows a hardy crop of maturing seeds pushing open the female structures which have protected them while they mature.