Juniperus scopulorum Sarg.
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TAXONOMY
 
Family: Cupressaceae
Genus: Juniperus
 
Species Synonyms: Juniperus scopulorum var. columnaris Fassett
Juniperus virginiana var. montana Vasey
Juniperus virginiana ssp. scopulorum (Sarg.) E. Murr.
Sabina scopulorum (Sarg.) Rydb.
Juniperus virginiana var. scopulorum (Sarg.) Lemmon
Common Names: Rocky Mountain juniper
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
Canada: central and southern British Columbia – southern Alberta – southern Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan: southern Saskatchewan; Big Muddy Lake – Wood Mountain
Ecoregion: Mixed Grassland
 
HABITAT
 
Saskatchewan: bushy ravine slopes
Associated Species: creeping juniper, dwarf juniper, needle-and-thread grass, silver sagebrush, western snowberry
 
RARITY STATUS
 
Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):
Endangered
Nature Conservancy Status:
G5 S1
Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:
None
COSEWIC Status:
None
 
Rocky Mountain juniper is endangered because it is extremely rare in the province. It is only known from one general region of the province and represents an eastward expansion of the species. Only a few individuals are known from each site..
 
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
 
Height: to 10 m
Stems: small tree or shrub, scraggly; bark grooved, reddish-brown to greyish, usually shredding with age
Leaves: evergreen; juvenile leaves narrowly triangular, 5 – 7 mm long; mature leaves scale-like, appressed, overlapping, tip acute to obtuse, glandular on back, green to bluish
Pollen Cone: on separate plant from seed cone, solitary at ends of branches, very small,
catkin-like, yellowish-brown
Seed Cone: solitary at tips of branches, stalk straight or slightly curved, berry-like,
greenish when immature, bright blue beneath bloom at maturity; seeds usually 2 per cone, yellowish to tan
 
JUNIPERUS KEY FOR SPECIES IN SASKATCHEWAN
 
1 Mature leaves needle-like, whorled, spreading; berry-like cones sessile in axils
J. communis
1 Mature leaves scale-like, opposite, appressed; berry-like cones on terminal branches
2
   
2 Branches creeping; scale-like leaves with an abrupt point at tip
J. horizontalis
2 Branches erect; scale-like leaves acute to obtuse at tip
J. scopulorum