Juniperus semiglobosa

Juniperus semiglobosa
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Gymnospermae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Cupressales
Family:	Cupressaceae
Genus:	Juniperus
Section:	Juniperus sect. Sabina
Species:	J. semiglobosa
Binomial name
	Juniperus semiglobosa; Regel

Juniperus semiglobosa, the Himalayan pencil juniper, is a species of juniper native to the mountains of Central Asia, in northeastern Afghanistan, westernmost China (Xinjiang), northern Pakistan, southeastern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, western Nepal, northern India, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It grows at altitudes of 1,550–4,420 metres (5,090–14,500 feet).^[2]^[3]^[4]^[1]

Description

Juniperus semiglobosa is an

leaves

are of two forms, juvenile needle-like leaves 3–7 millimetres (1⁄8–1⁄4 inch) long on seedlings and occasionally (as regrowth after browsing damage) on adult plants, and adult scale-leaves 1–2 mm long on older plants; they are arranged in decussate opposite pairs or whorls of three.

The

monoecious (male and female cones on the same plant).^[2]^[3]^[4]

Varieties

A variety Juniperus semiglobosa var. talassica has been described from Kyrgyzstan as having sweeter cone pulp, but does not differ from the type in genetics or leaf chemistry, and is not usually regarded as distinct.^[2]^[3]

Culture

Juniperus semiglobosa, locally "shukpa", is the state tree of Ladakh, where it is found in Leh and Kargil districts. It is locally used in religious ceremonies. However, such uses have led to excessive harvesting of the species.^[5]