Flaky Juniper

This recently described species is known from a single colection, with non-pendulous branchlets but otherwise close to Juniperus pingii, of which it may be a variety. More material needs to be collected and studied.

Four varieties occur in China: var. squamata and var. fargesii are commonly recognized, whereas the other two were recently described from single collections and need further study, given the wide geographical range and considerable variation found in the foliage of this species.

Shrubs to 60 cm; branches glaucous; branchlets ascending, loosely arranged and almost parallel, thin, usually straight, long, not angled. Leaves in whorls of 3, ascending, needlelike, straight or slightly incurved, 4-6 × ca. 1 mm, concave, with a white stomatal band and without a green midvein adaxially, obtusely ridged with longitudinal, thin grooves on ridges abaxially, base decurrent, apex sharply acuminate. Pollen cones not seen. Seed cones brownish black when ripe, globose, ca. 6 × 6 mm, 1-seeded. Seeds triangular-ovoid, ca. 5 × 5 mm.

Dioecious bushy, semiprostrate plant. Leaves decurrent, in whorls of 3, ovate‑lanceolate, pungent, 4‑7 mm long, concave. Male and female cones terminal at the end of short lateral branchlets. Fruit ovoid, brown to purple‑black, 8‑10 mm long, glabrous, 1‑seeded.

Shrubs erect or procumbent, or small trees to 12 m tall; branches ascending or horizontally spreading; branchlets densely arranged, straight or curved, usually short, not angled. Leaves in whorls of 3, spreading or ascending, sometimes nearly appressed, needlelike, straight or slightly curved, (2.5-) 5-10 × 1-1.5 mm, slightly concave, with white stomatal bands adaxially, obtusely ridged with longitudinal, thin groove on ridge or at base abaxially, base decurrent, apex acute or acuminate. Pollen cones ovoid, 3-4 mm; microsporophylls 9-12, each with 3 pollen sacs. Seed cones black or bluish black when ripe, ovoid or subglobose, 4-8 × 4-6 mm, 1-seeded. Seeds ovoid, 3.5-6 × 2-5 mm, ridged, with resin pits.

NW Yunnan (Dêqên Xian)

Afghanistan, Himalaya, N. Burma, W. China.

Distribution: E. Afghanistan, Chitral eastward to W. Nepal, N. Burma, Middle and~ W. China, Formosa.

S Anhui, W Fujian, S Gansu, E Guizhou, W Hubei, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan [Afghanistan, Bhutan, N India, Kashmir, N Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim]

3300-4400 m

* Mountain slopes; circa 3400 m.

Commonly associated withJ. communis and forming dense patches frequently above the upper limit of the trees up to 4000 m. Fruits medicinal. Fl. Per.: JuneJuly.

Forests, thickets, valleys, and roadsides in mountain areas; 1600-4500 m.