Juniperus grandis
{{Short description|Species of conifer}}
{{Speciesbox
|image=Hangmans Tree - Gold Fever Trail - Big Bear California.jpg
|genus=Juniperus
|species=grandis
|authority=R.P.Adams
|synonyms=Juniperus occidentalis var. australis (Vasek) A.H. Holmgren & N.H. Holmgren
|range_map=Juniperus occidentalis range map.jpg
|range_map_caption=Natural range in light green (dark green is Juniperus occidentalis)
|range_map_upright=0.8
}}
Juniperus grandis, known as Sierra juniper, Sierra western juniper, and western juniper, is a tree or tall shrub that is endemic to the Western United States. It is sometimes considered a variety or subspecies of Juniperus occidentalis, which is also known as western juniper.
Description
Juniperus grandis is a medium-sized tree, growing to {{convert|12|-|26|m|abbr=off}} tall. It has a stout trunk with red-brown bark, growing up to {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on|frac=2}} in diameter.
The whorled leaves are scale-like and closely appressed. Most plants are dioecious, but about 5–10% are monoecious.
Its fleshy and berry-like cones are {{Convert|5–9|mm|abbr=off|frac=16}} in diameter. Its pollination period is May and June. The seeds are wingless.
Based on dendrochronological evidence from the 2,675-year-old Scofield Juniper, Sierra junipers are the fourth longest-lived tree species after the Great Basin bristlecone pine, alerce and giant sequoia.{{cite web|title=OLDLIST, a database of old trees|publisher=Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research|url=http://www.rmtrr.org/oldlist.htm|accessdate=2021-10-17}}
Juniperus occidentalis australis foliage.jpg|Leaves
Juniper berries lush.jpg|Berry-like cones
JuniperBark.JPG|Bark
Juniperus occidentalis subsp australis Yosemite.jpg|Mature form
Bennett_Juniper_south_side.jpg|Bennett Juniper, the largest juniper{{cite web|title=Juniperus grandis|work=Gymnosperm Database|url=https://www.conifers.org/cu/Juniperus_grandis.php|date=2020-01-17|accessdate=2021-10-17}}
Distribution and habitat
Juniperus grandis is native to the Sierra Nevada in eastern California and western Nevada; and the White and Inyo Mountains, San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, and higher elevations of Mojave Desert mountains, in Southern California.
It is found in exposed, dry, rocky slopes, flats, pinyon–juniper woodland, and temperate coniferous forest habitats, including the Sierra Nevada upper montane forest and Sierra Nevada subalpine zone ecoregions. It grows at elevations of {{convert|100|-|3100|m|abbr=on}}.
References
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q1713601}}
Category:Endemic flora of the United States