Juniperus semiglobosa | |
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Scientific classification![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Gymnospermae |
Division: | Pinophyta |
Class: | Pinopsida |
Order: | Cupressales |
Family: | Cupressaceae |
Genus: | Juniperus |
Section: | Juniperus sect.Sabina |
Species: | J. semiglobosa |
Binomial name | |
Juniperus semiglobosa |
Juniperus semiglobosa, theHimalayan pencil juniper, is a species ofjuniper native to the mountains ofCentral Asia, in northeasternAfghanistan, westernmost China (Xinjiang), northern Pakistan, southeasternKazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, westernNepal, northern India,Tajikistan, andUzbekistan. It grows at altitudes of 1,550–4,420 metres (5,090–14,500 feet).[2][3][4][1]
Juniperus semiglobosa is anevergreenconiferousshrub or small to medium-sizedtree growing to heights of 5–15 metres (16–49 feet), rarely 20 m (66 ft), with a trunk diameter of up to 1.2 m (4 ft), rarely to 2–6 m (6+1⁄2–19+1⁄2 ft). It has flakybark. Theleaves are of two forms, juvenile needle-like leaves3–7 millimetres (1⁄8–1⁄4 inch) long on seedlings and occasionally (as regrowth after browsing damage) on adult plants, and adult scale-leaves 1–2 mm long on older plants; they are arranged in decussate opposite pairs or whorls of three.
Thecones are flattened globose (from which the namesemiglobosa) to bi-lobed or triangular, berry-like, 4–6 mm long and 4–8 mm across, blue-black, and contain two or threeseeds; they are mature in about 18 months. The pollen cones are 3–5 mm long, and shed their pollen in spring. It is usuallydioecious (male and female cones on separate plants), but occasionallymonoecious (male and female cones on the same plant).[2][3][4]
A varietyJuniperus semiglobosa var.talassica has been described fromKyrgyzstan as having sweeter cone pulp, but does not differ from the type in genetics or leaf chemistry, and is not usually regarded as distinct.[2][3]
Juniperus semiglobosa, locally "shukpa", is the state tree ofLadakh, where it is found inLeh andKargil districts. It is locally used in religious ceremonies. However, such uses have led to excessive harvesting of the species.[5]