Juniperus deppeana (alligator juniper or checkerbark juniper) is a small to medium-sized tree reaching 10–15 metres (33–49 feet) in height. It is native to central and northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.
The tree reaches 10–15 metres (33–49 feet), rarely 25 m (82 ft), in height. The bark is usually very distinctive, unlike other junipers, hard, dark gray-brown, cracked into small square plates superficially resembling alligator skin; it is however sometimes like other junipers, with stringy vertical fissuring. The shoots are 1–1.5 millimetres (1⁄32–1⁄16 inch) in diameter. On juvenile specimens, the leaves are needle-like and 5–10 mm (3⁄16–3⁄8 in) long. The leaves are arranged in opposite decussate pairs or whorls of three; in adulthood they are scale-like, 1–2.5 mm (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) long (up to 5 mm) and 1–1.5 mm broad. The cones are berrylike, 7–15 mm (1⁄4–9⁄16 in) wide, green when young and maturing to orange-brown with a whitish waxy bloom,. These contain 2–6 seeds, which mature in about 18 months. The male cones are 4–6 mm (3⁄16–1⁄4 in) long, and shed their pollen in spring. The species is largely dioecious, producing cones of only one sex on each tree, but occasional trees are monoecious.
There are five varieties, not accepted as distinct by all authorities:
Juniperus deppeana var. deppeana. Throughout the range of the species. Foliage dull gray-green with a transparent or yellowish resin spot on each leaf; cones 7–12 mm (1⁄4–1⁄2 in) diameter.
Juniperus deppeana var. pachyphlaea (syn. J. pachyphlaea). Arizona, New Mexico, northernmost Mexico. Foliage strongly glaucous with a white resin spot on each leaf; cones 7–12 mm diameter.
Juniperus deppeana var. robusta (syn. J. deppeana var. patoniana). Northwestern Mexico. Cones larger, 10–15 mm (3⁄8–5⁄8 in) diameter.
Juniperus deppeana var. sperryi. Western Texas, very rare. Bark furrowed, not square-cracked, branchlets pendulous; possibly a hybrid with J. flaccida.
Juniperus deppeana var. zacatecensis. Zacatecas. Cones large, 10–15 mm diameter.
It is native to central and northern Mexico (from Oaxaca northward) and the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas). It grows at moderate altitudes of 750–2,700 m (2,460–8,860 ft) on dry soils.
Ecologyedit
The berrylike cones are eaten by birds and mammals.[2][3]
Usesedit
Berries from alligator juniper growing in the Davis Mountains of West Texas are used to flavor gin, including one produced by WildGins Co. in Austin, Texas.[4]
Referencesedit
^Farjon, A. (2013). "Juniperus deppeana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42231A2964728. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42231A2964728.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Little, Elbert L. (1994) [1980]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Western Region (Chanticleer Press ed.). Knopf. p. 313. ISBN0394507614.
^Whitney, Stephen (1985). Western Forests (The Audubon Society Nature Guides). New York: Knopf. p. 370. ISBN0-394-73127-1.
^Elmer, Nicole L. (2020-01-09). "The Texas Eight: Love 'Em, Hate 'Em, or Drink 'Em". University of Texas at Austin Biodiversity Center. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Juniperus deppeana.
Adams, R. P. (2004). Junipers of the World: The genus Juniperus. Trafford Publishing ISBN1-4120-4250-X
Gymnosperm Database: Juniperus deppeana
Flora of North America: Juniperus deppeana
USDA Plant Profile: Juniperus deppeana
April 17, 2024
juniperus, deppeana, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, august. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Juniperus deppeana news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Juniperus deppeana alligator juniper or checkerbark juniper is a small to medium sized tree reaching 10 15 metres 33 49 feet in height It is native to central and northern Mexico and the southwestern United States Juniperus deppeanaSpecimen in Gila County ArizonaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade GymnospermaeDivision PinophytaClass PinopsidaOrder CupressalesFamily CupressaceaeGenus JuniperusSpecies J deppeanaBinomial nameJuniperus deppeanaSteud Natural range Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 2 1 Etymology 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Ecology 5 Uses 6 References 7 External linksDescription editThe tree reaches 10 15 metres 33 49 feet rarely 25 m 82 ft in height The bark is usually very distinctive unlike other junipers hard dark gray brown cracked into small square plates superficially resembling alligator skin it is however sometimes like other junipers with stringy vertical fissuring The shoots are 1 1 5 millimetres 1 32 1 16 inch in diameter On juvenile specimens the leaves are needle like and 5 10 mm 3 16 3 8 in long The leaves are arranged in opposite decussate pairs or whorls of three in adulthood they are scale like 1 2 5 mm 1 16 1 8 in long up to 5 mm and 1 1 5 mm broad The cones are berrylike 7 15 mm 1 4 9 16 in wide green when young and maturing to orange brown with a whitish waxy bloom These contain 2 6 seeds which mature in about 18 months The male cones are 4 6 mm 3 16 1 4 in long and shed their pollen in spring The species is largely dioecious producing cones of only one sex on each tree but occasional trees are monoecious nbsp Alligator like bark on trunk nbsp Alligator like bark on some of the branches nbsp Split form of trunk nbsp Foliage nbsp Close up of leaves nbsp Close up of juniper berriesTaxonomy editThere are five varieties not accepted as distinct by all authorities Juniperus deppeana var deppeana Throughout the range of the species Foliage dull gray green with a transparent or yellowish resin spot on each leaf cones 7 12 mm 1 4 1 2 in diameter Juniperus deppeana var pachyphlaea syn J pachyphlaea Arizona New Mexico northernmost Mexico Foliage strongly glaucous with a white resin spot on each leaf cones 7 12 mm diameter Juniperus deppeana var robusta syn J deppeana var patoniana Northwestern Mexico Cones larger 10 15 mm 3 8 5 8 in diameter Juniperus deppeana var sperryi Western Texas very rare Bark furrowed not square cracked branchlets pendulous possibly a hybrid with J flaccida Juniperus deppeana var zacatecensis Zacatecas Cones large 10 15 mm diameter Etymology edit Native American clarification needed names include tascate and tlascal Distribution and habitat edit nbsp Vastly split trunk in Prescott ArizonaIt is native to central and northern Mexico from Oaxaca northward and the southwestern United States Arizona New Mexico western Texas It grows at moderate altitudes of 750 2 700 m 2 460 8 860 ft on dry soils Ecology editThe berrylike cones are eaten by birds and mammals 2 3 Uses editBerries from alligator juniper growing in the Davis Mountains of West Texas are used to flavor gin including one produced by WildGins Co in Austin Texas 4 References edit Farjon A 2013 Juniperus deppeana IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013 e T42231A2964728 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2013 1 RLTS T42231A2964728 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Little Elbert L 1994 1980 The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees Western Region Chanticleer Press ed Knopf p 313 ISBN 0394507614 Whitney Stephen 1985 Western Forests The Audubon Society Nature Guides New York Knopf p 370 ISBN 0 394 73127 1 Elmer Nicole L 2020 01 09 The Texas Eight Love Em Hate Em or Drink Em University of Texas at Austin Biodiversity Center Retrieved 2021 04 15 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Juniperus deppeana Adams R P 2004 Junipers of the World The genus Juniperus Trafford Publishing ISBN 1 4120 4250 X Gymnosperm Database Juniperus deppeana Flora of North America Juniperus deppeana USDA Plant Profile Juniperus deppeana Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Juniperus deppeana amp oldid 1191430921, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
