Juniperus communis

Low Juniper

Branches with Female Cones

Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park
22-May-14

Note the early greenish cones and the mature purplish cones.

bullet

Communis: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
bullet

leaves in whorls of 3; NOT [leaves opposite]

bullet

leaves spreading; NOT [leaves appressed]

bullet

leaves 5-15 mm long; NOT [leaves 1-1.5 mm long]

bullet

leaves linear, awl-shaped, sharp-pointed; NOT [leaves scale-like]

 

bullet

Juniperus: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.
bullet

shrubs or small trees; NOT [medium to large trees]

bullet

seeds in a small, bluish, berry-like cone; NOT [seeds in a small dry cone]

bullet

branchlets NOT flattened

 

bullet

Cupressaceae: Answers to key questions in Flora of Alberta leading to this family. 
bullet

leaves opposite or whorled; NOT [leaves alternate or clustered]

bullet

leaves often overlapping

bullet

leaves scale-like or awl-shaped; NOT [leaves linear or needle-shaped]

bullet

cones many-seeded; NOT [cones reduced to a single ovule]

bullet

cones fleshy or woody; NOT [single seed surrounded by a fleshy aril]