Juniperus coahuilensis (Martiñez) Gaussen ex R.P. Adams

by Matthew Fry, Native Plants of Arizona 2004
Common names: redberry juniper, rose-fruited juniper  (1, 2, 3).
Family: cupressaceae (1,2,3).
Synonymy: Juniperus erythrocarpa Cory, Juniperus erythrocarpa var. coahuilensis Martinez, Juniperus texensis Van Melle  (1, 2, 3).
Etymology: Juniperus translates into “”.coahuilensis translates into “”(1, 2, 3).
Identification
Growth form: small tree or large shrub. Mature height usually ranges from 12 to 15 feet (3.6-4.5 m), with spreading and ascending branches forming an open, irregular crown. The bark is shreddy, but but is formed close to the trunk. Redberry juniper tends to have a central erect stem with lower branches originating near the ground level (1, 2, 3, 4).
Roots:
Stem: single-stemmed to 1 m or branched at base. Bark gray to brown, exfoliating in long ragged strips, that of small branchlets (5--10 mm diam.) smooth, that of larger branchlets exfoliating in strips, or occasionally in flakes (1, 2, 3).
Leaves: Leaves green to light green, abaxial glands elliptic to ovate, at least 1/4 of glands (on whip leaves) with an evident white crystalline exudate, margins denticulate (at 20´); whip leaves 4--6 mm, glaucous adaxially; scalelike leaves 1--3 mm, not overlapping or if so, by less than 1/4 their length, keeled, apex acute, spreading(1, 2, 3).
Inflorescence/flowers:
Fruit: Seed cones maturing in 1 year, of 1 size, with straight peduncles, globose to ovoid, 6--7 mm, rose to pinkish but yellow-orange, orange, or dark red beneath glaucous coating, fleshy and somewhat sweet, with 1(--2) seeds. Seeds 4--5 mm (1, 2, 3).
Similar species: Juniperus pinchottii, Juniperus monosperma

Ecology
Life history:
Native/introduced: Native to the Southwestern United States (1, 2, 3).
Photosynthetic pathway:
Phenology: pollinated in late fall, and the ovulate cones mature in late spring. Most juniper seeds germinate in spring (1, 2, 3).
Distribution: Southwestern United States and Texas to Northern Mexico (1, 2, 3).
 

Uses

J. coahuilensis wood is used locally for posts and fuel, its bark was used by Native Americans to make mats, saddles, and other items. They also used the seeds for beads or ground the fleshy cones for flour (1, 2, 3).
 

References

1. Pavek, Diane S. 1994. Quercus grisea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2004, December 8].

 2.  USDA, NRCS.  2002.  The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5.  (http://plants.usda.gov).  National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70874-4490  USA.

3. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (http://www.itis.usda.gov).

4. University of Michigain-Dearborn (http://herb.umd.umich.edu/)