Juniperus osteosperma

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Utah juniper
A Utah juniper showing distinctive shape and leaves

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order:
Cupressales
Family: Cupressaceae
Genus: Juniperus
Species:
J. osteosperma
Binomial name
Juniperus osteosperma
(Torr.) Little, 1948
Natural range

Juniperus osteosperma (Utah juniper; syn. J. utahensis) is a shrub or small tree native to the southwestern United States.

Description

The plant reaches 3–6 meters (9 ft 10 in – 19 ft 8 in), rarely to 9 m, tall. The shoots[

dioecious
, producing cones of only one sex.

The plants frequently bear numerous galls caused by the juniper tip midge Oligotrophus betheli (Bibionomorpha: Cecidomyiidae); these are conspicuous pale violet-purple, produced in clusters of 5–20 together, each gall 1–2 centimetres (3⁄8–3⁄4 in) in diameter, with dense modified spreading scale-leaves 6–10 mm (1⁄4–3⁄8 in) long and 2–3 mm broad at the base.

  • J. osteosperma leaves, female and male cones
    J. osteosperma leaves, female and male cones
  • Utah Juniper galls
    Utah Juniper galls
  • Seedling in northeastern Nevada
    Seedling in northeastern Nevada

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to the southwestern

Pinus monophylla
.

Ecology

Seeds are dispersed by a variety of mammals and birds. Mammals include

Canis latrans).[4] Most notable among the birds that disperse juniper berries is the Townsend's solitaire (Myadestes townsendi).[5]

Uses

Native Americans such as the Havasupai used the bark for a variety of purposes, including beds, and ate the cones both fresh and in cakes.[6] The Havasupai used the gum to make a protective covering over wounds. Additionally, the Yavapai gave their women a tea made from the leaves to calm their contractions after giving birth, and fumigated them with smoke from the leaves placed over hot coals. The Navajo sweep their tracks with boughs from the trees so death will not follow them.[7]

A small quantity of ripe berries can be eaten as an emergency food or as a sage-like seasoning for meat. The dried berries can be roasted and ground into a coffee substitute.[8]

Utah juniper is an aromatic plant. Essential oil extracted from the trunk and limb is prominent in α-pinene, δ-3-carene, and cis-thujopsene. Essential oil extracted from the leaf is prominent in camphor and bornyl acetate.[9] The trunk of Utah juniper retains essential oil for at least 20 years after the tree dies, and is prominent in cedrol and cis-thujopsene.[10]

See also

  • Pinyon-juniper woodland

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42241A2965708.en
    . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. OCLC 1141235469
    .
  3. ISBN 0394507614
    .
  4. S2CID 38377131
    .
  5. JSTOR 2425289
    .
  6. ISBN 0-394-73127-1
    .
  7. Bonanza Books
    . pp. 265–66.
  8. OCLC 244766414
    .
  9. ^ Wilson TM, Poulson A, Packer C, Marshall J, Carlson RE, Buch RM. "Essential oils of whole tree, trunk, limbs and leaves of Juniperus osteosperma from Utah". Phytologia. 101 (3): 188–193.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Wilson T.M., Poulson A., Packer C., Carlson R.E., Davis R., Dey M.G., Owen N.M., Smalley S.W., Dodge R., Zahn G., Baadsgaard A., Stevens M.T. (December 22, 2021). "Essential oil, insect, and microbe relationships in Juniperus osteosperma (Cupressaceae) trees killed by wildfire" (PDF). Phytologia. 103 (4): 106–118.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

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