Juniperus formosana

The Formosan juniper (Juniperus formosana ) is a plant from the family of cypress family ( Cupressaceae ). It is native to China and Taiwan.

Description

The Formosan juniper grows as evergreen shrub or multi-stemmed tree frequently, can achieve the stature heights 15-25 meters. The fibrous bark is brown and peels off in strips. The crown is pyramidal shaped to cylindrical. The branches go straight or ascending from the tribe. The branches are drooping.

The green needles are linear - lanceolate, with a length of 1.2 to 2.0 inches and a width of 1.2 to 2 millimeters to linear- acicular. You are a threesome together in whorls. The tip is pointed. The needle base is keeled and on the needle top, there are two white Stomatabänder.

The male cones are at a diameter of 4 to 6 mm spherical to elliptical-shaped Stand in Dreierwirteln and contain nine to twelve Mikroporophylle with four or more pollen sacs. The berry- like cones are spherical shaped with a length of 6 to 9 mm and a thickness of 6 to 8 mm to broadly ovate. At maturity towards them are orange to dark red-brown and sometimes have a blue-green tint on. They consist of six intergrown flakes. On the upper side of the stud there are three furrows. Each pin contains three seeds. The seeds are elongate - oval shape with a length of 4 to 5 millimeters and a width of 3 to 3.5 millimeters and triangular. Each seed has three or four teeth and has on the base for three to four resin pits.

Distribution and location

The natural range of the Formosan juniper is located in China and on the island of Taiwan. In China they are found in South Anhui, western Fujian, eastern Gansu, Guizhou, western Hubei, southern Hunan, southern Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Northeast Qinghai, southern Shaanxi, Sichuan, southern Xizang, Yunnan and in Zhejiang.

The Formosan juniper grows at altitudes 200-3600 m. There he grows primarily in Yushania forests and evergreen mixed forests, but also occurs above the tree line.

System

The first description as Juniperus formosana Hayata was made in 1908 by Bunzo in the Journal of the College of Science, Imperial University of Tokyo, Volume 25, Article 19, page 209, Table 38 A synonym for Juniperus formosana Hayata is Juniperus chekiangensis Nakai.

The Formosan juniper is allocated within the genus (Juniperus ) of section Juniperus.

The species is divided into up to two varieties and one form:

• Juniperus formosana var formosana is the nominate form. It occurs on Taiwan and Fujian.
• Juniperus formosana var mairei ( Lemée & H. Lév. ) RP Adams & CF Hsieh occurs in China. A synonym is Juniperus mairei Lemée & H. .. Lév
• Juniperus formosana f tenella Hand. - Mazz. occurs on Taiwan and in south-west Sichuan.

Threats and conservation

The Formosan juniper is " not threatened " on the Red List of IUCN. It is noted, however, that a re-examination of risk is necessary.

Swell

• Christopher J. Earle: Juniperus formosana. In: The Gymnosperm Database. www.conifers.org, December 12, accessed on January 5, 2012 ( English).
• Liguo Fu Yong -fu Yu, Robert P. Adams & Aljos Farjon: Cupressaceae. Juniperus. In: Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan (eds.): Flora of China. Cycadaceae through Fagaceae. Volume 4, Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing and St. Louis in 1999, ISBN 0-915279-70-3, Juniperus formosana, p.70 ( this printed work is the same text online, Juniperus formosana - Online).