68 DWARF AND SLOW-GBOWING CONIFERS 



and many others less well known. Inhabiting, as it 

 does, practically the whole of the Northern Hemisphere, 

 it is not surprising that it varies considerably in habit 

 and in foliage, and one or two of these forms are worth 

 mentioning : 



Var. nana may be taken to represent a low bushy form 

 with leaves usually larger and more concave than the 

 type; deep yellow-green outside; very glaucous blue- 

 white inside. There is a yellow form of this. 



Vars. Canadensis and depressa seem very similar, but 

 are semi-prostrate in habit. 



Var. prostrata. — An absolutely prostrate form is 

 occasionally met with. I have one collected in Conne- 

 mara, Co. Galway, foliage much smaller than the type. 

 It has made a prostrate mat flowing down over rock work. 



J. communis, var. nana, Loud. (vol. iv., 2486; 1838). 



Syn. : var. alpina, Gord. 

 J. nana, Willd. 

 J. alpina, Clus. 

 J. communis, var. Montana, Ait. 



A low prostrate shrub, rarely more than 1 foot high. 

 Branchlets shorter than the type. Leaves also shorter 

 and less spreading, J to J inch long by ^j to yV inch wide, 

 gradually tapering to spire-like apex; upper side very 

 concave with continuous very glaucous white stomatic 

 band ; lower convex, bluntly keeled. Fruit glaucous blue, 

 globose, i inch in diameter. Number of seeds variable, 

 one to three. It rarely bears fruit. 



I cannot trace the origin of the plant usually sent out 

 as J. nana, WiUd., and recognised by most authorities as 

 J. communis, var. nana, Loud.; but it is a very distinct 

 low or semi-prostrate shrub easily recognisable by its 

 grey or brown-green, short and very concave leaves and 

 their exceptionally glaucous upper side. 



Although most authorities now group all the prostrate 

 or procumbent varieties of the common juniper under the 



