Juniperus brevifolia / Azores juniper

Juniperus brevifolia as described in 1857 by Franz Antoine (1815–1886), in Cupress. Gatt. 16th edition, is commonly known as Azores juniper. It is closely related to Juniperus oxycedrus (Prickly juniper) of the Mediterranean region and Juniperus cedrus (Canary Islands juniper) of the Canary Islands. It was first described as a short-leaved variety of Prickly juniper (i.e. J. oxycedrus var. brevifolia Seub. 1844), hence the species name, Latin for "short-leaf."

artwork by Gilbert Dupin
artwork by Gilbert Dupin
Description. Azores juniper is an evergreen, coniferous species of shrub or small tree that grows to mature heights of 20 feet (6 m), with a trunk up to 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter, measured at breast height, and a broad crown with dense branching. This juniper is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. Bark is reddish brown and thin, peeling in vertical strips. Leaves are evergreen and needle-like, growing in whorls of three, glaucous green in color, measuring 0.16 to 0.4 inch (4 - 10 mm) long and 0.04 to 0.12 inch (1 - 3 mm) broad, with a double white stomatal band (split by a green midrib) on the inner surface. Pollen cones are are slightly oblong shaped, yellow in color, measuring 0.08 to 0.12 inch (2 - 3 mm) long, falling soon after shedding pollen in early spring. Seed cones are berry-like, green in color, ripening 18 months after pollination to orange-red with a variable pink waxy coating; they are spherical, measuring 0.24 to 0.36 inch (6 - 9 mm) in diameter, and have three or six fused scales in one or two whorls of three, the three larger scales each with a single seed. Seeds are dispersed when birds eat the cones, digesting the fleshy scales and passing the hard seeds in their droppings. Distribution. This species is endemic to the Azores (on Corvo, Faial, Flores, Pico, Santa Maria, São Jorge, São Miguel, and Terceira), growing in open woodlands of mountain slopes at elevations of 800 to 3,500 feet (240 - 800 m) above sea level, rarely up to 5,000 feet (1,500 m). It is threatened by habitat loss and endangered in its native range due to a combination of historical felling for its valuable wood and competition from invasive introduced plants. Hardy to USDA Zone 9 — cold hardiness limit between 20° and 30°F (-6.6° and -1.1°C).
Description. Azores juniper is an evergreen, coniferous species of shrub or small tree that grows to mature heights of 20 feet (6 m), with a trunk up to 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter, measured at breast height, and a broad crown with dense branching. This juniper is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. Bark is reddish brown and thin, peeling in vertical strips. Leaves are evergreen and needle-like, growing in whorls of three, glaucous green in color, measuring 0.16 to 0.4 inch (4 - 10 mm) long and 0.04 to 0.12 inch (1 - 3 mm) broad, with a double white stomatal band (split by a green midrib) on the inner surface. Pollen cones are are slightly oblong shaped, yellow in color, measuring 0.08 to 0.12 inch (2 - 3 mm) long, falling soon after shedding pollen in early spring. Seed cones are berry-like, green in color, ripening 18 months after pollination to orange-red with a variable pink waxy coating; they are spherical, measuring 0.24 to 0.36 inch (6 - 9 mm) in diameter, and have three or six fused scales in one or two whorls of three, the three larger scales each with a single seed. Seeds are dispersed when birds eat the cones, digesting the fleshy scales and passing the hard seeds in their droppings. Distribution. This species is endemic to the Azores (on Corvo, Faial, Flores, Pico, Santa Maria, São Jorge, São Miguel, and Terceira), growing in open woodlands of mountain slopes at elevations of 800 to 3,500 feet (240 - 800 m) above sea level, rarely up to 5,000 feet (1,500 m). It is threatened by habitat loss and endangered in its native range due to a combination of historical felling for its valuable wood and competition from invasive introduced plants. Hardy to USDA Zone 9 — cold hardiness limit between 20° and 30°F (-6.6° and -1.1°C).

Attribution from: Aljos Farjon; Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys; ©2005, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Juniperus brevifolia — a closeup of foliage detail.
Photo by Jason A. Smith
Juniperus brevifolia — an Azorean endemic tree species. This specimen is in Matosa, Flores island.
Photo by Angrense - Own work, Public Domain photo, via Wikimedia Commons

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