Pollen of Ephedra from the Chinle Formation (Upper Triassic) [Arizona] and the genus Equisetosporites

Recently discovered pollen grains with asymmetrically ridged ektexines from the Chinle formation (Upper Triassic) represent the extant genus Ephedra. The holotype specimen of Equisetosporites chinleana Daugherty is also a conspecific Ephedra pollen grain, and the species is transferred to form the new combination Ephedra chinleana (Daugherty) R. A. Scott. Since this species was its genotype, the genus Equisetosporites Daugherty should be abandoned.