Juniperus brevifolia

Kurzblättriger juniper on Flores

The Kurzblättrige juniper (Juniperus brevifolia ) is a plant of the family of the cypress family ( Cupressaceae ). It is endemic to the archipelago of the Azores and is therefore also called Azores juniper.

• 5.1 Notes and references

Description

Vegetative characteristics

The Kurzblättrige juniper grows as evergreen, upright shrub or small tree with a broad pyramidal crown. The brown- purple bark of the trunk comes off in strips. The branches stand upright. The forced threesome standing in whorls needle- shaped leaves measure 3-10 × 1-2 mm, are strongly curved and carry on the adaxial leaf surface two broad, white, equipped with stomatal bands.

Generative features

The Kurzblättrige juniper is dioecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( dioecious ). All pins are applied axillary. The male cones are individually. The almost spherical, 7-9 mm large seed cones mature in the second year. The before ripening green -frosted and when ripe, dark copper- brown seed cones contain three exposed seeds.

Occurrence

The Kurzblättrige juniper is endemic to the Azores and colonized the islands of Santa Maria, São Miguel, Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo. It grows on moist rocks of volcanic origin on the mountain slopes at altitudes from 250 to 1500 meters.

Systematics and history of research

Juniperus brevifolia in 1844 by Moritz August Seubert in the flora azorica, Volume 26 as a variety and those of the present basionym Juniperus brevifolia var oxycedrus Seub. first described. Franz Antoine gives her 1857 in The Cupressineae genera: Arceuthos, Juniperus and Sabina, Volume 16, Panel 20 to 22 to the rank of a species Juniperus brevifolia ( Seub. ) Antoine. The separation of Juniperus oxycedrus is supported by comparison of the leaf oil compositions by DNA sequencing and RAPD analyzes. Also, DNA sequencing, the Portuguese way Juniperus navicularis than related species. Therefore, it is hypothesized that Juniperus Juniperus brevifolia navicular and common ancestors come from and this came through seed dispersal by means of birds in the Azores. The continued isolation led by subsequent differentiation to speciation of Kurzblättrigen juniper.

Juniperus brevifolia is performed within the genus Juniperus in the section or sub-genus Juniperus. For Juniperus brevifolia is next to the basionym Juniperus brevifolia var oxycedrus Seub. as another synonym Juniperus brevifolia var link rufescens ( Seub. ) Endl. mentioned.

Threats and conservation measures

The Kurzblättrige juniper is indeed often in the Azores, but due to its small and fragmented distribution area as well as the competition with naturalized plants judged to be at risk. Accordingly, the World Conservation Union IUCN leads him in the Red List of Threatened Species as "vulnerable ", ie risk.

The Kurzblättrige juniper was recognized at European level with the Bern Convention, Appendix I of the Council of Europe as a strictly protected wild plant. Furthermore, be for him with the Fauna-Flora -Habitat Directive Nr.92/43/EWG in the updated version from 1 January 2007, Annex 1 of the European Union protected areas for their habitat type Endemic forests with Juniperus spp. required to be treated in priority manner.

Swell

• Robert P. Adams: Junipers of the World: The genus Juniperus. 2 edition. Trafford Publishing Co., Vancouver 2008, ISBN 978-1-4251-6880-3, Chapter 4: Keys to Juniperus Juniperus brevifolia and, pp. 81,84 and 118-119.