Nevada ephedra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nevada ephedra |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ephedra
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| Species: |
nevadensis
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Nevada ephedra (also called Ephedra nevadensis) is a cool plant. It grows naturally in dry parts of western North America. It's part of the Ephedra family.
You can find Nevada ephedra in many places. It grows from California and Oregon in the west. It reaches Texas in the east. It also grows south into Baja California in Mexico. This plant likes rocky and sandy soils. It usually grows in places where there are no trees. You can spot it in areas like the Great Basin and the Colorado plateau. It also lives in the desert Southwest.
This plant is very important for many animals. It is a key food source for them. Animals like mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) eat it. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) and desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) also graze on it. Even farm animals like domestic sheep enjoy eating Nevada ephedra.
How People Use Nevada Ephedra
Nevada ephedra has been useful to people for a long time. Indigenous people used it for food. They also used it as medicine. Early Mormons made a tea from it.
Today, this plant is mostly food for farm animals. Sheep and cattle eat it often. It is not as good for horses. Nevada ephedra is also used to help bring back plants in damaged areas. Sometimes, people grow it in their gardens. They like how it looks. The Zuni people still make a special tea-like drink from it.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Nevada ephedra uses the wind to spread its pollen. This is called wind-pollinated. Male plants often grow in drier spots. Female plants grow in wetter areas. Scientists think this helps them make more seeds.
The plant's cones grow and pollination happens from March to June. The seeds become ready from May to August. But the plant does not make seeds every year. In nature, small animals like rodents often help spread the seeds. If you want to grow this plant, you can collect its seeds easily. Then you can plant them. You can also grow new plants from pieces of the plant. This is done by using transplants or cuttings.
