Juniperus gracilior

Juniperus gracilior is a plant belonging to the family of the cypress family ( Cupressaceae ). It comes on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola endemic.

Description

Can Juniperus gracilior grows as evergreen shrub or tree of the stature heights of 10 to 15 meters reach. The loosely related branches and the thin branches form a spherical crown on the tree shape. The shrub is usually prostrate. The bark of the thicker branches flakes off in irregular-shaped plates.

The light green to gray- green, scale-like leaves are opposite or alternate on the branches and 1 to 1.5 millimeters in size. They have a pointed tip and a mostly unobtrusive, oval-shaped, dark brown leaf gland.

The heyday of Juniperus gracilior is probably in the winter. The berry cones are on a straight, up to 2 mm long stem and with a diameter of 5 to 7 mm spherically shaped to kidney-shaped. At maturity they are out reddish colored blue and have a bluish sheen. Each pin carries one to two seed.

Distribution and location

The natural range of Juniperus gracilior is located on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. In the Dominican Republic you can find them near Constanza and Hato del Yaque. In Haiti, they are found along the mountain range of the Chaîne de la Selle.

Juniperus gracilior thrives at altitudes from 1000 to 2550 meters. One finds the way, especially in the highlands.

System

The first description as Juniperus was gracilior 1913 by Robert Knud Friedrich pilgrims in Symbolae Antillanae seu Fundamenta Florae Indiae occidentalis, Volume 7, page 481

The species is divided into up to three varieties:

• Juniperus gracilior var ekmanii ( Florin ) RPAdams occurs in the Chaîne de la Selle. It grows as a tree or shrub. A synonym is Juniperus ekmanii Florin.
• Juniperus gracilior var gracilior is the nominate form and comes occurs near Constanza and Hato del Yaque. It grows as a tree or shrub.
• Juniperus gracilior var Urban ( Pilg. & Ekman ) RPAdams occurs only on the Pic la Selle. It grows as a low -lying shrub. A synonym is Juniperus Urban Pilg. Ekman et.

Threats and conservation

Juniperus gracilior is in the Red List of IUCN " high risk " as performed. The variety ekmanii is listed as " critically endangered ". However, it is noted that a re-examination of risk is necessary. The main hazard due to the settlement is called by the populations of the species only have been preserved in inaccessible areas.

Swell

• Christopher J. Earle: Juniperus gracilior. In: The Gymnosperm Database. www.conifers.org 12 December, 2010, accessed on 28 July 2012 ( English).
• Michael J. Warnock (ed.): Juniperus gracilior. In: Phytologia. Volume 78, No. 2, Texensis Publishing, Gruver, Texas in February 1995, pp. 143-144 (online, accessed 28 July 2012 ).