Shrubs rhizomatous, forming clumps, erect, 0.25--1.5 m, 3--5 m diam. Bark reddish brown, cracked and irregularly fissured. Branches alternate or whorled, rigid, angle of divergence about 25°. Twigs bright green, becoming yellow-green with age, viscid, ridges between longitudinal grooves papillate; internodes 1--5 cm. Terminal buds conic, 1--3 mm. Leaves opposite, 2--5 mm, connate to 1/4--1/2 their length; bases thickened, brown, persistent; apex setaceous. Pollen cones 2--several at node, obovoid, 4--6 mm, on very short, scaly peduncles (rarely sessile); bracts opposite, 5--9 pairs, light yellow, ovate, 2--4 × 2--3 mm, membranous, slightly connate at base; bracteoles slightly exceeding bracts; sporangiophores 2--4 mm, barely exserted, with 5--7 sessile to short-stalked (less than 1 mm) microsporangia. Seed cones 2--several at node, obovoid to nearly globose, 7--15 mm, peduncles 5--25 mm, with 1 pair of basal and 1 pair of nearly terminal bracts; bracts opposite, 3 or 4 pairs, ovate, 3--6 × 2--5 mm, membranous, with yellow center and base, margins entire. Seeds 2, ellipsoid, 5--8 × 2--4 mm, brown to chestnut, smooth.

Coning late winter--midspring (Mar--May). Dry, flat, sandy areas, occasionally on rocky slopes; 1400--2300 m; Ariz., Colo., N.Mex., Utah.

The hybrid Ephedra × arenicola is discussed under E . torreyana .