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 7m 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).

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).

Remarkable Specimens

No data as of 2023.03.03.

Ethnobotany

Observations

Remarks

Citations

Adams, Robert P. 2008. Junipers of the World: The Genus Juniperus. Second edition. Trafford Publishing. Brief versions of the descriptions are available online at Adam's website, www.juniperus.org.

See also

The species account at Threatened Conifers of the World.

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