Taxon Report

Ephedra torreyana S. Watson

Torrey's Mormon-tea

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Taxon Summary

Ephedra torreyana, commonly known as Torrey's Mormon-tea, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Ephedraceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Great Basin scrub, growing at elevations from 765 to 810 meters. Ephedra torreyana is ranked 2B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Ephedra torreyana S. Watson
Common Name:	Torrey's Mormon-tea
Family:	Ephedraceae
Element Code:	PGEPH01080
USDA Plants Symbol:	EPTO
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial evergreen shrub
Blooming Period: May	May
Elevation:	765-810 (2510-2660)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:	Valley bottoms, silt

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.1
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.1 to 2B.1 on 2013-06-12 added to 2.1 on 2012-02-08

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	12
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	6
Fair (C)	4
Poor (D)	1
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	1

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Calvada Springs (3511588), Mound Spring (3611518), Nopah Peak (3611611)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	3
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	11	92 %
Non-native plant impacts	11	91%
ORV activity	11	91%
Development	3	25%

Notes



Discovered in CA in 2011; known in CA only from Pahrump Valley.
Threats:
Threatened by solar energy development. Potentially threatened by noxious weeds and vehicles.
Taxonomy:
Similar to E. trifurca (and also to E. funerea when cones are not present). See Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 14:299-300 (1879) for original description.

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2012-02-08

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2026. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 20 March 2026].