GEKUS JUNIPERUS. 57 



J. drupacea, Labillardiere. The Syrian Juniper. 

 {Synonym: Arceuthos drupacea, Antoine and Kotschy). 

 Northern Syria, Crete. 1854. In several respects this 

 species must be considered as one of the most interesting of 

 the junipers. It is of bold, upright growth, with a well- 

 formed tree-like stem, and produces large plum-like fruit, 

 quite distinct from any other of the family. The Syrian 

 juniper is often said to be of slow and small growth, but 

 in this country, at least, this is not always the case, for a 

 specimen that has long been under my observation has, in 

 thirty years, attained to a height of 21 feet, the stem girthing 

 25 inches at one yard from the ground. Perhaps the worst 

 fault of this species of juniper is the early loss of the lower 

 branches after a height of 12 feet or thereabouts is reached, 

 and this loss of branches is general, and it was noticeable in 

 every specimen that I know of Usually the habit of the 

 Syrian juniper is upright, not stiffly so, but just sufficient to 

 impart a neat appearance to the tree. The branches incline 

 upwards, and the branchlets slightly droop ; the foliage is 

 thickly produced crowded, in fact. The leaves vary much 

 in length, according to their position, but they are, for the 

 greater part, J- of an inch long, stiff, sharp-pointed, 

 and of a uniform grey-green colour, and quite wanting in the 

 various tints of silver or frosted appearance possessed by 

 many species of juniper. The fruits are sparingly produced 

 even on old specimens ; but when in any quantity, the tree 

 has a beautiful appearance from contrast between the large 

 blue-black berries and the light green foliage. The fruits are 

 almost spherical, except at the apex, which is deeply cleft or 

 indented, are fully |- of an inch in diameter, and often 

 become suffused with a glaucous bloom just before they 

 ripen. 



For ornamental purposes, in sheltered spots, and in stiff 

 soils, I would recommend Juniperiis drupacea to be planted, 

 as being a tree of robust and stately growth. 



. J. excelsai Bieberstein. {Synonyms : J. taurica and 

 /. religiosa.) Levant, Himalaya, Afghanistan to Sikkim. 



