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FNA | Family List | FNA Vol. 2 | Cupressaceae | Juniperus

8. Juniperus occidentalis Hooker, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 166. 1838.

Western juniper

Trees monoecious or dioecious, to 20(--30) m, single-stemmed; crown rounded to conical. Bark red-brown to brown, exfoliating in thin strips, that of small branchlets (5--10 mm diam.) smooth, that of larger branchlets exfoliating in scales or flakes. Branches spreading to ascending; branchlets erect, 3--4-sided in cross section, ca. 2/3 or less as wide as length of scalelike leaves. Leaves green, abaxial glands ovate to elliptic, conspicuous, with yellow or white exudate, margins denticulate (at 20ยด); whip leaves 3--6 mm, not glaucous adaxially; scalelike leaves 1--3 mm, not overlapping, rounded, apex acute to obtuse, appressed. Seed cones maturing in 2 years, of 2 distinct sizes, with straight peduncle, ovoid, 5--10 mm, blue to blue-black, glaucous, fleshy and resinous, with 2(--3) seeds. Seeds 2--4 mm.

Varieties 2: only in the flora.


1 Bark red-brown; seed cones (5-)7.5(-9) mm; plants often (50%) monoecious.   8a var. occidentalis
+ Bark brown; seed cones (7-)8.5(-10) mm; plants mostly (90%) dioecious.   8b var. australis

Lower Taxa


 

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