Juniperus osteosperma (Torr.)  

by Jason Ramirez, Native Plants Class, Summer 2005

 Common names:  Little Utah Juniper (1), Shaggy bark juniper, western juniper (2).
Family:  : Cupressaceae
Synonymy: J. californica var. utahensis, Sabina osteosperma (1)
Identification

Growth form:  Shrub or tree to 6m. (2)
Roots:  Deep taproots.  Lateral roots extend up to 30m a few centimeters below the soil surface (4)
Stem:  Clearly defined trunk up to .5m in diameter. (2) Bark is gray, shreddy in long strips and fiberous (2)
Leaves:  Yellowish green, scalelike, and 1.5mm in diameter (3).  
Inflorescence/flowers: Monoecious (3)
Fruit:  Subglobose, 6-12 mm diameter, leathery cones are berrylike.  Brownish to blue-purple at maturity.  One or two seeds within a hard coat (3,4).
Similar species:  Juniperus knightii, J. melagocarpa (1)

Ecology

Life history: Perennial(1,2)
Native/Introduced:  Native
Phenology:  Flowers from January to April.  Wind pollinated. Monoecious with female cones maturing in two years. (4)Distribution:  Southwest and Great Basin Region; common in Arizona, less so in New Mexico.  1067- 2135m, often in pure stands (3) 
 

Uses : Wood used for fence posts and fuel, cones eaten by wildlife, Important to Native Americans as a food source (2,3) and medicinally to treat bladder and kidney problems, wounds, and mouth sores (4).

 

References:

1.       USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Plants Profile. http://plants.usda.gov/

2.       Epple, Anne O.,  Epple Lewis  E.  1995.  A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona.  The Globe Pequot Press.

3.       [NAUSF] NAU School of Forestry. 2003. Notes on herbaceous and woody plants.

Flagstaff: SNS Printing; 105 p.