EVERGREENS OF COLORADO 



Fig. 25. 



1. LOW JUNIPER, MOUNTAIN JUNIPER. 

 Juniperus communis, var. sibirica (Burgsd.) Rydb. 



The low juniper is a spread- 

 ing shrub usually less than a 

 yard tall, but which sometimes 

 covers several square yards in 

 width. It commonly occurs in 

 rocky places in the foothills and 

 mountains up to 10,000 feet 

 altitude. The stems are slender, 

 branched and covered with a 

 thin, reddish brown bark which 

 separates into thin papery scales 

 upon the older stems. 



The needles are single, but 

 produced in whorls of three and 

 point upward and outward from 

 the twigs. They are sharply 

 pointed, rounded below and 

 grooved above and join the stem 

 with an abrupt bend. 



The berries are about one- 

 fourth inch in diameter, nearly 

 smooth or with faint marks of the 

 pistil scales and bluish in color. 

 They require three seasons in 

 which to mature and contain 

 from one to three bony seeds. 



The principal use to which this 

 juniper is put is for planting in 

 shrubbery borders. It is well 

 adapted to planting against foun- 

 dation walls, in rockeries and 

 about rustic work, where a low 

 evergreen is desired. The berries 

 are sometimes employed in medi- 

 cine, and are used extensively to 

 give their characteristic flavor to 

 gin. 



The common juniper, of which 

 this is a variety, grows to the 

 stature of a tree in this country 

 only on the limestone hills of 



Douglas Fir. 

 young tree. 



Vigorous 



southern Illinois, where it sometimes reaches a height of twenty-five feet. 



