[Conifers of Mt. Adams Country]

Common Juniper, Dwarf Juniper, Ground Juniper, Prostrate Juniper

Juniperus communis var. kelleyi

Synonyms: Juniperus communis ssp. alpina, Juniperus communis ssp. jackii, Juniperus communis ssp. montana, Juniperus communis ssp. nana, Juniperus communis ssp. saxatilis, Juniperus communis var. alpina, Juniperus communis var. jackii, Juniperus communis var. montana, Juniperus communis var. saxatilis, Juniperus communis var. sibirica, Juniperus nana, Juniperus sibirica

Scale-like needles of Common Juniper, Dwarf Juniper, Ground Juniper, Prostrate Juniper: Juniperus communis var. kelleyi (Synonyms: Juniperus alpina, Juniperus communis ssp. alpina, Juniperus communis ssp. nana, Juniperus communis ssp. saxatilis, Juniperus communis var. alpina, Juniperus communis var. jackii, Juniperus communis var. montana, Juniperus communis var. sibirica, Juniperus nana, Juniperus sibirica)

The photo above shows the awl-like leaves of common juniper. Notice on both the photos above and below that that the upper surface has a noticeable whitish bloom. Photographed on steep, rocky slopes immediately to the south of Crystal Lake on the western slopes of Mt. Adams........September 25, 2005.

Common Juniper, Dwarf Juniper, Ground Juniper, Prostrate Juniper: Juniperus communis var. kelleyi (Synonyms: Juniperus alpina, Juniperus communis ssp. alpina, Juniperus communis ssp. nana, Juniperus communis ssp. saxatilis, Juniperus communis var. alpina, Juniperus communis var. jackii, Juniperus communis var. montana, Juniperus communis var. sibirica, Juniperus nana, Juniperus sibirica)

Common juniper is the one conifer on Mt. Adams that is truly a shrub, with the trunk and stems prostrate along the ground. Plants will often get as much as 2.5 meters in diameter. They are found on rocky, exposed ridgetops, lava fields and cliffs on Mt. Adams up to about 7500'. The broad stomatal band atop each leaf is clearly visible here.

Common Juniper, Dwarf Juniper, Ground Juniper, Prostrate Juniper: Juniperus communis var. kelleyi (Synonyms: Juniperus communis ssp. alpina, Juniperus communis ssp. jackii, Juniperus communis ssp. montana, Juniperus communis ssp. nana, Juniperus communis ssp. saxatilis, Juniperus communis var. alpina, Juniperus communis var. jackii, Juniperus communis var. montana, Juniperus communis var. saxatilis, Juniperus communis var. sibirica, Juniperus nana, Juniperus sibirica)

Common juniper as seen from the base of a rocky butte at about 7000' to the south of the North Cleaver, north side of Mount Adams........August 11, 2016. Again, note the broad stomatal band atop each leaf which is clearly visible here.
Paul Slichter