Juniperus osteosperma

Taxobox
name = "Juniperus osteosperma"
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = A Utah Juniper showing distinctive shape and leaves
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo = Pinales
familia = Cupressaceae
genus = "Juniperus"
species = "J. osteosperma"
binomial = "Juniperus osteosperma"
binomial_authority = (Torr.) Little

"Juniperus osteosperma" (Utah Juniper; syn. "J. utahensis") is a shrub or small tree reaching 3-6 m (rarely to 9 m) tall. It is native to the southwestern United States, in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, western New Mexico, western Colorado, Wyoming, southern Montana, southern Idaho and eastern California. It grows at moderate altitudes of 1,300-2,600 m, on dry soils, often together with "Pinus monophylla".

The shoots are fairly thick compared to most junipers, 1.5-2 mm diameter. The leaves are arranged in opposite decussate pairs or whorls of three; the adult leaves are scale-like, 1-2 mm long (to 5 mm on lead shoots) and 1-1.5 mm broad. The juvenile leaves (on young seedlings only) are needle-like, 5-10 mm long. The cones are berry-like, 8-13 mm in diameter, blue-brown with a whitish waxy bloom, and contain a single seed (rarely two); they are mature in about 18 months. The male cones are 2-4 mm long, and shed their pollen in early spring. It is largely monoecious with both sexes on the same plant, but around 10% of plants are dioecious, producing cones of only one sex.

").

References

*Adams, R. P. (2004). Junipers of the World: The genus Juniperus. Trafford Publishing ISBN 1-4120-4250-X
*Chambers, J. C., S. B. Vander Wall, and E. W. Schupp. (1999). Seed and seedling ecology of piñon and juniper species in the pygmy woodlands of western North America. Botanical Review 65: 1-38.

External links

* [http://www.conifers.org/cu/ju/osteosperma.htm Gymnosperm Database: "Juniperus osteosperma"]
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500737 Flora of North America: "Juniperus osteosperma"]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=JUOS USDA Plant Profile: "Juniperus osteosperma"]
*