Juniperus ashei

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Juniperus ashei

J. ashei pollinating mature male on right, immature tree on left, mature green females in background

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Cupressaceae
Genus:	Juniperus
Species:	J. ashei

Binomial name

Juniperus ashei
J. Buchholz

Juniperus ashei (Ashe Juniper) is a drought-tolerant evergreen shrub or small tree, native to northeastern Mexico and the south-central United States north to southern Missouri; the largest areas are in central Texas, where extensive stands occur. It grows up to 5-10 m tall, rarely 15 m, and provides erosion control and year-round shade for wildlife and livestock.

The feathery foliage grows in dense sprays, bright green in colour. The leaves are scale-like, 2-5 mm long, and produced on rounded (not flattened) shoots. It is a dioecious species, with separate male and female plants. The seed cones are globose to oblong, 3-6 mm long, and soft, pulpy and berry-like, green at first, maturing purple about 8 months after pollination. They contain 1-2 seeds, which are dispersed when birds eat the cones and pass the seeds in their droppings. The male cones are 3-5 mm long, yellow, turning brown after pollen release in December to February.

The pollen causes a severe allergic reaction for some people in the winter, and people who are allergic to Ashe Juniper are also often allergic to the related Juniperus virginiana. Consequently, what begins as an allergy in the winter, may extend into spring since the pollination of J. virginiana follows after that of J. ashei. Ashe Juniper is sometimes known in the area as "mountain cedar" (although neither it nor J. virginiana are cedars), and some locals refer to the allergy as cedar fever.

The wood is naturally rot resistant and provides raw material for fence posts. Although Ashe Juniper is native to central Texas, it is considered a weed by some landowners in that area, especially by ranchers because overgrazing by cattle selectively removes competition while avoiding the bitter-tasting juniper seedlings. This allows for a high rate of juniper establishment and reduces ranch yields. This reputation is compounded due to Ashe Juniper's superior ability (in comparison to other plants) to compete for scarce water. It is also costly and difficult to kill, as the whole tree must be removed or destroyed; simply cutting them down is ineffective, as they readily re-sprout from their trunk / root stock.[1]