Illustrations of Conifers. 31 



I 



JUNIPERUS TETRAGON A (Schlechtendal). 



Linnasa, Vol. XII., p. 495 (1888). 

 VHtch's Man. Conif. ed. 2, p. 179 (1900). 



Usually a low bush or a small tree 20 to 30 feet high, occasionally 

 attaining a height of 100 feet, with a trunk about 3 feet in girth. 



Branchlets thick, quadrangular. Leaves in pairs, closely ap- 

 pressed, strongly keeled on the back, obtuse or acute, about ^ inch 

 long, minutely denticulate on the margins. Acicular leaves ^ to |- 

 inch long. 



Fruit globular, bluish black, \- inch in diameter. Seeds three to 

 five, angular, more or less grooved or pitted. 



Juniperus tetragona resembles J. occidentalis, and is best dis- 

 tinguished from that species by its quadrangular branchlets. It is 

 more southern in its distribution, being found on low limestone 

 hills in Western and Southern Texas, whence it spreads southwards 

 into Mexico. At high altitudes it becomes shrubby in habit. 



The illustration represents a native specimen collected in Mexico 

 by Mons. F. Nicolas. 



