Juniperus taxifolia

Juniperus taxifolia (Bonin Islands juniper; Japanese: シマムロ Shimamuro) is a species of juniper, endemic to the Bonin Islands southeast of Japan.[2][3][4]

Juniperus taxifolia

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Division:
Pinophyta
Class:
Pinopsida
Order:
Pinales
Family:
Cupressaceae
Genus:
Juniperus
Species:
J. taxifolia
Binomial name
Juniperus taxifolia

It is an evergreen coniferous shrub growing to a height of 1–3 m (rarely a small tree to 13 m tall). The leaves are needle-like, in whorls of three, light green, 7–14 mm long and 1-1.5 mm broad, with a double white stomatal band (split by a green midrib) on the inner surface. It is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. The seed cones are berry-like, green ripening in 18 months to reddish-brown with a variable light waxy coating; they are spherical, 8–10 mm diameter, and have six or nine fused scales in two or three whorls of three; the three larger scales each with a single seed. The seeds are dispersed when birds eat the cones, digesting the fleshy scales and passing the hard seeds in their droppings. The pollen cones are yellow, 5 mm long.[2][3]

Some authors include Juniperus lutchuensis from the Ryukyu Islands in J. taxifolia as a synonym,[3] or variety,[5] while others treat it as a distinct species as it has a distinct DNA profile.[2]

Its conservation status, previously given as Data Deficient,[6] is now listed as Vulnerable.[4]

References
  1. Katsuki, T.; Farjon, A. & Luscombe, D. (2013). "Juniperus taxifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T32042A2809466. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T32042A2809466.en.
  2. Adams, R. P. (2004). Junipers of the World. Trafford. ISBN 1-4120-4250-X
  3. Farjon, A. (2005). Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 1-84246-068-4
  4. Yasushi laboratory: Juniperus taxifolia (in Japanese; google translation)
  5. Yasushi laboratory: Juniperus taxifolia var. lutchuensis (in Japanese; google translation)
  6. Conifer Specialist Group (2000): Juniperus taxifolia
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