VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Ephedra nevadensis | Nevada Ephedra 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Nevada ephedra is reportedly the most important forage species of all
North American ephedra (Ephedra spp.) [26].  It provides valuable browse
for mule deer, mountain sheep, and pronghorn [21,22,26].  Nevada ephedra
may be heavily utilized on mule deer winter ranges, particularly during
times of food shortages, but is often largely ignored during the summer
months [26].  However, in Utah, Smith and Beale [21] observed that
pronghorns consumed significant amounts during brief periods of the
summer.  Quail, cottontail rabbits, mule deer, and mountain sheep often
feed on Nevada ephedra during critical drought periods [22].

Nevada ephedra provides food for all classes of domestic livestock.  It
is, however, considered poor quality forage for horses [15].  Throughout
much of the Great Basin, this shrub is an important winter food source
for sheep, goats, and cattle [5].


PALATABILITY : 
Nevada ephedra browse is at least moderately palatable to mule deer and
to all classes of domestic livestock.  Young stems are preferred over
older, tougher foliage [22].  Seeds are palatable to a wide variety of
small birds and mammals.  Overall palatability of Nevada ephedra in Utah
has been rated as follows [6]:

Cattle                    fair
Sheep                     fair
Horses                    fair
Pronghorn                 fair 
Elk                       poor 
Mule deer                 fair 
White-tailed deer         ---- 
Small mammals             good
Small nongame birds       fair 
Upland game birds         fair
Waterfowl                 poor


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Nevada ephedra browse is low in sodium and phosphorus.  Specific
nutrient content varies according to plant part, phenological
development, and site characteristics [27].  Food value has been
examined in detail [16,27].  Selected values are as follows [16,27]:

                   Mature, aerial part

  Ca                     5.81%
  Mg                     1.28%
  P                      0.50%

date sampled                   percent dry weight

                     P     Na     K     Ca    Mg     Si    
Feb. 11            .06   .003    .25   2.43  .18    .04    
March 17           .09   .007    .31   2.21  .30    .07
April 4            .12   .012    .86   2.65  .34    .12
May 21             .08   .007   1.80   1.02  .17    .05
June 19            .08   .006   2.26   1.41  .20    .04
July 29            .05   .008   1.45   1.72  .18    .05
Sept. 24           .04   .007    .91   2.37  .21    .10
Dec. 31            .07   .009    .61   2.37  .19    .11

date sampled                    ppm
                    Zn    Cu    Fe    Mn    B    Al    Sr    Be
Feb. 11             23    14   101    77    14   82    82    45
March 17            19    10   142   136    12  134    97    24
April 4             17     5   143   149    22  167    67    30
May 21              20    20   186    13    18  145    50    11
June 19             21    14   161    17    12  149    66    12
July 29             24    12   248    26     9  184    91    13
Sept. 24            22    19   240    38    10  188    96    18
Dec. 31             27    14   121    47    16  152    52    33


COVER VALUE : 
Cover value of Nevada ephedra has been rated as follows in Utah
(Dittberner and Olson 1983):


Pronghorn             fair
Elk                   poor
Mule deer             poor
White-tailed deer     ---- 
Small mammals         good
Small nongame birds   fair
Upland game birds     fair
Waterfowl             poor


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Nevada ephedra commonly forms dense, slowly spreading colonies [J. A.
Young, pers. comm. 1987].  Growth and establishment characteristics make
this shrub valuable for use on disturbed sites where it can aid in soil
stabilization [17].  Plants establish readily from direct seeding,
transplants, or cuttings [17,26].  Seedlings emerge in late winter or
early spring following fall or winter plantings [18].

Nevada ephedra is well adapted to many basin big sagebrush (Artemisia
tridentata ssp. tridentata), Wyoming sagebrush (A. tridentata ssp.
wyomingensis), black sagebrush (A. nova), gray low sagebrush (A.
arbuscula), northern desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, and salt desert
communities [18,23].  Seedlings have been successfully planted onto
semiarid reclaimed strip mines in southwestern Wyoming and elsewhere,
with survival rates ranging from 12 percent to 94 percent [12,20].
Nevada ephedra seedlings are tolerant of extreme drought but may take 5
to 10 years to grow 2 feet (0.61 m) in height [18].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Nevada ephedra is occasionally cultivated as an ornamental [4].  Many
species of ephedra have historically been used to make beverages and as
a remedy for coughs, headaches, cold, fever, and other ailments.  Native
Americans traditionally roasted and ate the seeds or added them to
breads [26].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Radiation:  Studies conducted at the Nevada test site indicate that
exposure of Nevada ephedra to radiation results in reduced growth,
much-decreased fruit production, and poor germination [27].

Browse:  Utilization of Nevada ephedra can be difficult to detect due to
the manner in which the stems break off at joints [18].

Related categories for Species: Ephedra nevadensis | Nevada Ephedra