BLUE 251 



face, and channeled and whitened on the upper 

 one. The whitened appearance of the upper sur- 

 face is due to a thin layer of wax, which covers 

 and protects, from dew and rain, the stomata, 

 or openings, of the air passages. 



Floivers. — The staminate and pistillate flow- 

 ers grow in aments on separate plants. April, 

 May. 



Juniperus communis is an erect shrub or small 

 tree, common to the northern portions of Europe, 

 Asia, and America. In the latter continent it 

 extends as far south as New Jersey, Pennsyl- 

 vania, Nebraska, Michigan, and along the Rock- 

 ies to New Mexico. 



Junipeims nana (Jimiperus communis, var. al- 

 jnna of Gray) is distinguished from the pre- 

 ceding by a growth in low circular patches. 

 These spread over waste rocky hillsides and 

 are eradicated with difficulty. The leaves are 

 somewhat stouter and less spreading than those 

 of Junip)erus communis. 



