| Juniperus seravschanica | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Cupressales |
| Family: | Cupressaceae |
| Genus: | Juniperus |
| Section: | Juniperus sect.Sabina |
| Species: | J. seravschanica |
| Binomial name | |
| Juniperus seravschanica | |
 | |
| Distribution ofJuniperus excelsa complex | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Juniperus seravschanica is a species ofjuniper. Common names includePashtun juniper (Pashto:اوبښتهōbəx̌ta, "[a species] which sucks water"; Pashto: پښتني صنوبر).
It ranges from southernmost Kazakhstan through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, eastern Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, to northern and eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, and Kashmir. Outlying populations are found in the mountains of southeastern Iran – nearKuhbanan,Rabor, and on Kuh-e Khabr in theHazaran range – and theHajar Mountains ofOman.[1][2]
Juniperus seravschanica is sometimes classified as a subspecies ofJ. polycarpos orJ. excelsa.[1][2]
Juniperus seravschanica occurs in the higher-elevation forests inKazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan andUzbekistan, which theWorld Wildlife Fund calls theGissaro-Alai open woodlands. In this general regionJuniperus turkestanica,J. semiglobosa,maples (Acer spp.),almonds (Prunus amygdalus), and roses (Rosa spp.) also occur (although not necessarily in the samehabitats).[3] In easternAfghanistan it also occurs in upper-montane woodlands ofJ. seravschanica which occur at elevations between 3,100 and 3,300 metres (10,200 and 10,800 feet), in the territory the WWF has delineated asEast Afghan montane conifer forests,[4] and in the openxeric woodlands at elevations of 1,500–2,000 m (4,900–6,600 ft), further south in theBaluchistan xeric woodlands of southern Afghanistan andPakistan'sBalochistan Province.[5]
A substantial but dwindling forest ofJ. seravschanica is found inZiarat District andKalat District of Pakistan, as well asZarghun Ghar Zarghoon Mountains nearQuetta andHarboi including some are found inKoh-i-Takatu andKoh-i-Murdaar adjacent to Quetta in northern and central Balochistan, and surrounding parts of southeasternAfghanistan. The largest compact block is theZiarat Juniper Forest inZiarat and surroundings on an approximate range of about 700,000 acres (2,800 square kilometres).[6]
The southernmost population ofJ. seravschanica is in theHajar Mountains ofOman, where the junipers grow in the highest portions of the central range. The junipers formopen woodlands at elevations of 2,100–3,000 m (6,900–9,800 ft), sometimes co-dominant withOlea europaea.[7]
Overgrazing by camels, goats and feral donkeys has impeded regeneration of woodlands at altitudes below 2,400 m in Oman.[7]