PINACE^ 245 



This remarkable juniper, easily recognized from all the other 

 species by its large, stiff leaves with adherent bases and large 

 fruits, is a native of the mountains of Asia Minor, Syria, and 

 Greece. It is found at elevations of 1,000-5,600 ft., either 

 forming pure woods or mixed with other conifers. It was prob- 

 ably introduced into cultivation about 1854, but so far as is 

 known has never produced fruit in England, where aU the trees 

 in cultivation are believed to be males. 



Clinton-Baker, Illust. Conif. in, 14 (1913). 



Juniperus excelsa, Bieberstein. (Fig, 54.) 



Grecian Juniper. 



A tree of columnar or pyramidal habit, attaining in Asia 

 Minor a height of 80-100 ft., and a girth of 9-12 ft. Bark ashy 

 grey or brownish, peeling off in strips. Branchlets slender, the 

 ultimate divisions a'o in. or less in diameter. Leaves scale-like, 

 closely pressed, in 4 ranks, arranged in opposite pairs, ovate, 

 rhombic, about o^ in. long, acute or obtuse, with a glandular 

 furrow on the back, or on the oldest branchlets in threes or in 

 pairs. Juvenile type of leaves rarely seen on adult plants, spread- 

 ing, in opposite pairs, ,'-] in. long, concave above with two 

 stomatic bands marked on the lower surface with a narrow gland 

 at the base. 3Iale and female flowers on the same tree or on 

 different trees. Fruit globose, -|-| in. in diameter, dark purplish 

 brown, glaucous, composed of 4-6 scales, each marked by a 

 minute point. Seeds, about 6 in each fruit, oblong. 



Var. stricta, Hort. 



Narrowly pyramidal in habit with glaucous juvenile foUage ; 

 leaves awl-shaped, shghtly spreading, about | in. long, whitened 

 with a stomatic band above and showing a minute gland near 

 the base on the lower surface. 



The varieties Perkinsii and venusta, described in Gordon's 

 Pinetum, are forms of this variety with more glaucous foUage. 



As a native tree J. excelsa attains its greatest development 

 in Asia Minor, where it forms extensive woods in mountainous 

 regions. It is also found in the Balkan States, Armenia, and the 

 Caucasus, and was probably first grown in England in 1836, 

 although the actual date of introduction is somewhat uncertain. 



The wood of J. excelsa is of good quality, very durable 

 and suitable for building purposes, furniture, posts, and railway 

 sleepers. It is chiefly used in the Mediterranean region. It 

 has been suggested that the wood of this tree was actually the 

 " Cedar of Lebanon " of the Bible and not that of Cedrus Libani. ^ 



1 Natural History Review, January , 1862 ; Elwes and Henry, op. cit. vi, 1446 

 (1912); Clinton-Baker, op. cit. ii, 75, No. 3 (1909). 



