Juniperus taxifolia
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| Juniperus taxifolia Hook. & Arn. |
Juniperus taxifolia (Bonin Islands Juniper; Japanese: シマムロ Shimamuro) is a species of juniper, endemic to the Bonin Islands southeast of Japan.[1][2][3]
It is an evergreen coniferous shrub growing to a height of 1-3 m (rarely a small tree to 13 m tall). The leaves are needle-like, in whorls of three, light green, 7-14 mm long and 1-1.5 mm broad, with a double white stomatal band (split by a green midrib) on the inner surface. It is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. The seed cones are berry-like, green ripening in 18 months to reddish-brown with a variable light waxy coating; they are spherical, 8-10 mm diameter, and have six or nine fused scales in two or three whorls of three; the three larger scales each with a single seed. The seeds are dispersed when birds eat the cones, digesting the fleshy scales and passing the hard seeds in their droppings. The pollen cones are yellow, 5 mm long.[1][2]
Some authors include Juniperus lutchuensis from the Ryukyu Islands in J. taxifolia as a synonym,[2] or variety,[4] while others treat it as a distinct species as it has a distinct DNA profile.[1]
Its conservation status, previously given as Data Deficient,[5] is now listed as Vulnerable.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Adams, R. P. (2004). Junipers of the World. Trafford. ISBN 1-4120-4250-X
- ^ a b c Farjon, A. (2005). Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 1-84246-068-4
- ^ a b Yasushi laboratory: Juniperus taxifolia (in Japanese; google translation)
- ^ Yasushi laboratory: Juniperus taxifolia var. lutchuensis (in Japanese; google translation)
- ^ Conifer Specialist Group (2000): Juniperus taxifolia
