Juniperus saltillensis

M.T.Hall (1971)

Common names

Saltillo juniper (Adams 2008).

Taxonomic notes

Syn.: Juniperus ashei J. Buchholz var. saltillensis (M.T. Hall) Silba 1984, but molecular evidence indicates it is more closely related to J. pinchotii than to J. ashei (Adams 2008). Type: Mexico: Coahuila: ca. 30 km SE of Saltillo (Farjon 2005).

Description

Broad shrubs, or trees to 7 m tall. Bark ash-gray, smooth, not peeling, in longitudinal strips, thick. Twigs branching at about 60 degrees from the limb, terminal whips recurved at the tip. Whip leaves decurrent. Scale leaves opposite, triangular-ovate, obtuse to rounded, tips appressed to the twig, 0.5-1.5 mm long, margins finely denticulate, usually with a dorsal resin gland that is the same color as older (>1 year) leaves; gray-green. Seed cones ellipsoid to globose, soft juicy resinous pulp, dark blue-black with heavy glaucous bloom producing an overall light blue color, 4.5-8 mm diameter, each bearing 1 (sometimes 2, rarely 3) seeds. Seeds ovoid, obtuse, dark brown, 4-5 mm long. Pollen shed January-February (Adams 2008).

See Hall (1971) for drawings and photographs.

Distribution and Ecology

Mexico: Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León and Zacatecas, 1800-2900 m elevation (Farjon 2005). Commonly occurs at the margins of Bouteloua grasslands and Pinus woodlands (Adams 2008). Hardy to Zone 8 (cold hardiness limit between -12.1°C and -6.7°C) (Bannister and Neuner 2001).

See Hall (1971) for detailed notes on habitat and vegetation associations.

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2026-06-04.

Ethnobotany

No data as of 2026-06-04.

Observations

No data as of 2026-06-04.

Remarks

The epithet refers to the type location, near Saltillo, Coahuila.

Citations

Adams, Robert P. 2008. Junipers of the World: The Genus Juniperus. Second edition. Trafford Publishing.

Hall, M. T. 1971. Fieldiana 34:45, figs. 1-7. Available: Biodiversity Heritage Library, accessed 2026.01.30.

See also

The species account at Threatened Conifers of the World.

Farjon (2005) provides a detailed account, with illustrations.