Juniperus indica

Juniperus indica, the black juniper, is a juniper native to high-altitude climates in the Himalaya, occurring in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and China.

Juniperus indica
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Gymnospermae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Cupressales
Family:	Cupressaceae
Genus:	Juniperus
Section:	Juniperus sect. Sabina
Species:	J. indica
Binomial name
Juniperus indica Bertol.
Synonyms
Juniperus wallichiana Hook. f. & Thomson ex Parl. Juniperus wallichiana Hook.f. & Thomson ex E.Brandis Sabina indica (Bertol.) L.K.Fu & Y.F.Yu Sabina wallichiana (Hook.f. & Thomson ex E.Brandis) W.C.Cheng & L.K.Fu

It is of interest as the highest elevation woody plant known, reported growing as high as 5,200 metres (17,100 feet) in southern Tibet; the lowest limit being 2,600 m (8,500 ft).

It is a shrub growing to 50–200 centimetres (20–79 in) tall, with largely horizontal branching. The leaves are dark gray-green, dimorphic, with adult plants having mostly scale-like leaves 1–3 millimetres (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) long, while young plants have mostly needle-like leaves 5–8 mm long, but needle-like leaves can also be found on shaded shoots of adult plants. The leaves are borne in whorls of three on strong stout main stem shoots, and opposite pairs on thinner, slower-growing shoots. It is dioecious, with male (pollen) and female (seed) cones on separate plants. The mature seed cones are ovoid, berry-like, 6–10 mm long, glossy black, and contain a single seed; the seeds are dispersed by birds which eat the cones, digest the fleshy cone pulp, and excrete the seeds in their droppings.

References

• Farjon, A. (2013). "Juniperus indica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42238A2965473. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42238A2965473.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.