Juniperus squamata

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

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = Foliage of cultivar 'Meyeri'
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo = Pinales
familia = Cupressaceae
genus = "Juniperus"
species = "J. squamata"
binomial = "Juniperus squamata"
binomial_authority = Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don

"Juniperus squamata" (Flaky Juniper or Himalayan Juniper; Chinese: 高山柏 "gao shan bai") is a species of juniper native to the Himalaya and China, from northeastern Afghanistan east to western Yunnan in southwestern China, and with disjunct populations north to western Gansu and east to Fujian. It grows at 1,600-4,900 m altitude.Adams, R. P. (2004). "Junipers of the World". Trafford. ISBN 1-4120-4250-X] Farjon, A. (2005). "Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 1-84246-068-4] Flora of China: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=210000925 "Juniperus squamata"] ] IUCN2006|assessors=Conifer Specialist Group|year=1998|id=42254|title=Juniperus squamata|downloaded=12 May 2006]

It is a shrub (rarely a small tree) reaching 2-10 m tall (rarely 15 m), with flaky brown bark, and a prostrate to irregularly conical crown. The leaves are broad needle-like, 3-9 mm long, arranged in six ranks in alternating whorls of three, and often strongly glaucous blue-green in colour. The cones are berry-like, globose to ovoid, 4-9 mm long and 4-6 mm diameter, glossy black, and contain one seed; they are mature in about 18 months. The male cones are 3-4 mm long, and shed their pollen in early spring. It is largely dioecious, with pollen and seed cones produced on separate plants, but occasionally monoecious.

Three to five varieties are accepted, with treatment differing between different authors:
*"Juniperus squamata" var. "squamata" - leaves mostly 5-9 mm. Throughout the range.
*"Juniperus squamata" var. "fargesii" Rehder & E.H.Wilson - leaves mostly 3-5 mm. Confined to the eastern half of the range in China.
*"Juniperus squamata" var. "hongxiensis" Y.F.Yu & L.K.Fu; often included in var. "squamata".
*"Juniperus squamata" var. "parviflora" Y.F.Yu & L.K.Fu; often included in var. "squamata".

"Juniperus morrisonicola" Hayata from Taiwan is often treated as a synonym, or a variety "Juniperus squamata" var. "morrisonicola" (Hayata) H.L.Li & H.Keng,Gymnosperm Database: [http://www.conifers.org/cu/ju/squamata.htm "Juniperus squamata"] ] but is better treated as a distinct species as it has a distinct DNA profile.

Cultivation and uses

"Juniperus squamata" is widely grown as an ornamental plant in Europe and North America, valued for its bluish foliage, particularly brightly coloured in the cultivars 'Blue Carpet', 'Blue Star', and 'Meyeri'.

References and external links