Status: Native
Synonyms:
Juniperus erythrocarpa Cory var. coahuilensis Martinez
Juniperus coahuilensis var. arizonica is very similar to Juniperus monosperma. The most notable difference is that the cones ("berries") of Juniperus coahuilensis var. arizonica are pink, while those of Juniperus monosperma are purplish. There is also more resin on the leaves of Juniperus monosperma. Juniperus coahuilensis var. arizonica is found at Bill Evans Lake and along the trail to the San Francisco River Hot Springs.
R.P. Adams, an expert on the genus Juniperus, has concluded that Juniperus coahuilensis var. arizonica deserves to be elevated to species status and has renamed it Juniperus arizonica. Here is information from Richard Felger:
"Juniperus arizonica is common in the western part of the Gila region, such as in the San Francisco River area, at about 4500 to 5000 feet elevation, and also occurs to the south and west of the Gila Region. In such areas one does not find J. monosperma. Smaller and apparently isolated populations occur in Burro Mountains and elsewhere in the Gila River drainage area, often intermixed with J. monosperma. In their detailed work on junipers in 2006, Robert Adams and co-authors recognized part of the more broadly interpreted J. coahuilensis as the distinct species J. arizonica. Arizona juniper has bark shredding in long strips and is most easily distinguished by having cones with a pinkish- or sometimes dark bluish-colored surface, beneath which the cones are reddish or reddish orange. Arizona juniper is described as having 2 or less often 1 seed per cone. It often grows with the very different Juniperus deppeanna."
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Juniperus coahuilensis var. arizonica, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, along the trail to the San Francisco River Hot Springs, December 28, 2010
Juniperus coahuilensis var. arizonica, closeup of female cones, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, along the trail to the San Francisco River Hot Springs, December 28, 2010
Juniperus coahuilensis var. arizonica, branch, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, along the trail to the San Francisco River Hot Springs, December 28, 2010
Juniperus coahuilensis var. arizonica, bark, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, along the trail to the San Francisco River Hot Springs, December 28, 2010
Juniperus coahuilensis var. arizonica, male cones, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, along the trail to the San Francisco River Hot Springs, December 28, 2010
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