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Sierra juniper, western juniper.

Habit Trees monoecious or dioecious, to 20(–30) m, single-stemmed; crown rounded to conical.
Bark

red-brown to brown, exfoliating in thin strips, that of small branchlets (5–10 mm diam.) smooth, that of larger branchlets exfoliating in scales or flakes.

Branches

spreading to ascending;

branchlets erect, 3–4-sided in cross section, ca. 2/3 or less as wide as length of scalelike leaves.

Leaves

green, abaxial glands ovate to elliptic, conspicuous, with yellow or white exudate, margins denticulate (at 20x);

whip leaves 3–6 mm, not glaucous adaxially; scalelike leaves 1–3 mm, not overlapping, rounded, apex acute to obtuse, appressed.

Seed(s)

cones maturing in 2 years, of 2 distinct sizes, with straight peduncle, ovoid, 5–10 mm, blue to blue-black, glaucous, fleshy and resinous, with 2(–3) seeds.

Juniperus occidentalis

Distribution
from FNA
CA; ID; NV; OR; WA; only in the flora
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Bark red-brown; seed cones (5-)7.5(-9) mm; plants often (50%) monoecious.
var. occidentalis
1. Bark brown; seed cones (7-)8.5(-10) mm; plants mostly (90%) dioecious.
var. australis
Source FNA vol. 2.
Parent taxa Cupressaceae > Juniperus > sect. Sabina
Sibling taxa
J. ashei, J. californica, J. coahuilensis, J. communis, J. deppeana, J. flaccida, J. horizontalis, J. monosperma, J. osteosperma, J. pinchotii, J. scopulorum, J. virginiana
Subordinate taxa
J. occidentalis var. australis, J. occidentalis var. occidentalis
Name authority Hooker: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 166. (1838)
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