Juniperus monosperma

One-seeded juniper (Juniperus monosperma )

The one-seeded juniper (Juniperus monosperma ) is a plant from the family of the cypress family ( Cupressaceae ). It is native to the southern United States and northern Mexico.

Description

The one-seeded juniper grows as evergreen shrub or tree of the plant height 7-12 meters and diameter at breast height can reach over 1.3 meters. The straight or ascending outgoing from the root branches form a round to flattened - spherical shaped crown. Most of the trunk branches already short on the ground. The straight branches are 0.5 to 1 cm thick and have a four-to six-sided cross-section. The gray to brown bark peels off in thin strips. The bark of the branches is smooth, the branches of the thicker peels off in flakes or strips.

It makes two forms of green to dark green leaves, which have finely toothed leaf edges and having at the bottom elongated glands. Less than a fifth of these glands form a white, crystalline substance. The needle-like leaves are 4-6 mm long and are colored blue-green on the upper leaf surface. The scale-like leaves are 1 to 3 millimeters long and are keeled. Your tip is pointed. They do not overlap, or only up to a quarter of its length.

The one-seeded juniper is dioecious - getrenntgeschlechtig ( dioecious ) and the cones mature in the same year. The fleshy and resinous berry cones have formed a straight stem and are at a diameter 6-8 mm spherical to ovoid. At maturity they are reddish towards blue to brownish colored blue and frosted blue-green. Each of said pins carrying one to three seeds. The seeds are 4-5 mm long.

Distribution and location

The natural range of the one-seeded juniper includes northern Mexico and the southern part of the United States. In Mexico, it is found in northern Sonora and Chihuahua. In the U.S., the distribution area includes the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

The one-seeded juniper grows at altitudes from 1000 to 2300 meters. It grows mainly on slopes on dry, rocky soils.

Use

The one-seeded juniper is used as an ornamental plant use.

System

The first description as Juniperus occidentalis var monosperma was made in 1878 by George Engelmann in Transactions of the Academy of Science of St. Louis, Volume 3, page 590 In 1896, the variety of Charles Sprague Sargent in The Silva of North America Volume 10, was page 89 levied as Juniperus monosperma in the species status. Other synonyms for Juniperus monosperma ( Engelm. ) coffin. Juniperus californica var are monosperma ( Engelm. ) Lemmon, Juniperus mexicana var monosperma ( Engelm. ) Cory and Sabina monosperma ( Engelm. ) Rydb ..

Threats and conservation

The one-seeded juniper is classified as " not at risk " in the IUCN Red List. However, it is noted that a re-examination of risk is necessary.

Swell

• Christopher J. Earle: Juniperus monosperma. In: The Gymnosperm Database. www.conifers.org 25 April, 2012, accessed on September 1, 2012 ( English).
• Frank D. Watson, James E. Eckenwalder: Cupressaceae. Juniperus. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee ( eds.): Flora of North America North of Mexico. Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. Volume 2, Oxford University Press, New York et al 1993, ISBN 0-19-508242-7, Juniperus monosperma ( this work is the same text online, Juniperus monosperma - Online).