What is the name of the plant that produces "mormon tea"?

Question

It has epinephrine in it. (Saw it on Survivorman).
Do you know who sells it?

Answer 1

Ephedra viridis

Range
All four of the southwestern deserts of the U.S.

Habitat
Mesas, plains, sandy soil including dunes below 5,000 feet.

Description
This medium-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet high and appears to have no leaves. It looks like a thicket of numerous green, jointed, leafless branches with conspicuous nodes.

It actually does have small, scale-like leaves and tiny flowers of male and female cones which bloom February through April. The fruit is a seed surrounded by 2 or 3 large scales.

There are a number of species of Mormon Tea (Ephedra genus) growing in the southwestern deserts of the U.S., including E. trifurca, E. viridis, E. torreyana, E. nevadensis and E. californica. All have been used for a variety of medicinal purposes by various peoples over the centuries.

Answer 2

Its not that we don't want the association per se. The LDS church knows that the name Mormon is more sticking than LDS. Plus there's the Book of Mormon. From wiki: The official name of the Salt Lake City, Utah based church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the term "Mormon Church" has long been attached to the church as a nickname, it is an unauthorized title, and its use is discouraged by the church, although the use of "Mormon" in other contexts is not generally considered offensive and is commonly used by members of the LDS Church.[3][4][5] Leaders of the LDS Church have encouraged members to use the church's full name to emphasize the church's focus on Jesus Christ.[6]

Answer 3

Shrubs of Montezuma Castle

Mormon Tea (Ephedra viridis)

This plant, also known as joint-fir, has no noticeable leaves. Its green bark contains chlorophyl which allows for photosynthesis to occur. A tea of the joints has been used for stomach disorders, rheumatism, and as a decongestant for colds. New world ephredras contain psuedoephedrine, while old world ephedras contain ephredrine.

Answer 4

There is an actual plant named Mormon Tea. It grows mainly in deserts. The following web site has a ton of information....
http://www.desertusa.com/april97/du_mormontea.html

hope thats what you are looking for!

Answer 5

It's also called 'Popotillo.' Used to be available in the medicinal herb section of health/natural foods stores, but since it's an ingredient in making 'meth' it's been clamped down on by the gov't. Because of its stimulant properties, it's nothing to be played with by the curious and/or cheap-thrill seeker.

Answer 6

i thought it was Ephedra sinica.
in any case it's illegal in the U.S.

"As of April 21st, 2006, the FDA's decision to ban nutritional/diet supplements from containing the plant or extracts thereof of ephedra was upheld by the Tenth Circuit courts."

Answer 7

Ephedra viridis ???

Dunno where to get it though - sorry:(