EVERGREENS OF COLORADO 



39 



2. 



SHRUBBY JUNIPER, CREEP- 

 ING JUNIPER. 



Juniperus prostrata (Per?.) Antoine. 



This plant, while merely a low 

 spreading shrub seldom more than 

 a yard high, closely resembles the 

 red cedars in everything except 

 stature. It may be infrequently 

 found upon rocky, exposed ridges 

 and dry slopes throughout a large 

 portion of the Northern United 

 States and Canada. It is of un- 

 common occurrence in Colorado 

 and has been recorded principally 

 from the eastern slopes of the 

 Rocky Mountains in this State. 

 Its stems are slender, much 

 branched and often prostrate, in 

 which case they may strike root. 

 The foliage consists mainly of very 

 small, scale-like leaves in four 

 ranks upon the twigs and is of a 

 yellowish green color. The berries 

 are usually under one-fourth inch 

 in diameter, of a light bluish color, 

 and contain from one to four bony 

 seeds. 



This juniper from its scarcity 

 and small size is of little im- 

 portance except for its possible use 

 as a very low, slow-growing ever- 

 green. Its ability to withstand 

 exposure and drought may fit it for 

 certain rustic effects about cabins 

 and summer homes in the moun- 

 tains. 



3. UTAH JUNIPER, DESERT 

 JUNIPER. 



Juniperus Utahensis (Engelm) Rydg. 



The Utah juniper occurs quite 

 extensively on dry slopes and table 

 lands of limestone formation, from 

 Western Colorado to Nevada, south- 

 eastern California and Arizona, 

 principally at elevations below 

 8,000 feet. It is a rather low 



Pig. 26. 



Douglas Fir. 

 trunk. 



Bark of old 



