Juniperus Deppeana.By Greg Fox

Juniperus deppeana. by Greg Fox

Common names: alligator juniper, checker-barked cedar Family: Cupressaceae Synonymy: Juniperus deppeana (conifer).

Identification Growth form: A tree growing 20-50 ft in height (1). Culture: Grows in full sun, in hot, limestone soils. Seems to adapt to the moderately heavy soils of the mid-Atlantic. Will not do well in poorly drained, wet soil (2). Bark: Black or gray-black, thick, and broken into a series of rectangular to square plates (2). Branches: Spreading to ascending; branchlets erect, rarely flaccid, 3-4-sided in cross section, ca. 2/3 or less as wide as length of scale-like leaves (2). Leaves: Scale-like, opposite in 4 rows; twigs quadrate (4- sided); scales sharp-pointed, between 1/8 and 1/16 inches in length; color blue-green with a gland dot and common with a dot of resin (2). Flowers: Monoecious; males are small pale yellow in large clusters at ends of twigs; females are small, round pale green (2). Cones: Berry-like, 0.4 to 0.5 inches in length and globular; color brown with a white bloom, hard and dry; 3-5 seeds, most commonly 4 (2). Similar Species: No similar species

Ecology Life history: A long-lived perennial Native/Introduced: Native Phenology: Cones open during February or March and mature from August to October of their second year. Cone crop production exhibits significant annual variation (2). Habitat: The species occurs on the dry rocky slopes of mountains within its range in association with pinyon pines and other juniper species. They most commonly grow between 4,000 and 6,000 ft (1,220- 1,830 m) (1). Distribution: Commonest in the dry mountain ranges of Arizona and New Mexico extending as far north as the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona and as far east as the Trans-Pecos region of western Texas. The species is widely distributed in Mexico (1).

Uses Human: The wood is fragrant with attractive grain and color, making it well suited for the making of novelty items such as bookends and small chests. The wood is also used commonly as firewood because it is light, easy to split, has a high heat value, and gives off a pleasant aroma when burned. The wood is also occasionally made into particleboard (3). Nature: Birds and mammals enjoy the berries, which are available at times when other foods are scarce (3).

References: 1. Dayton, William A. 1931. Important western browse plants. Misc. Publ. 101. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 214 p. 2. Earl, Richard A.; Bash, Dallas L. 1996. Response of alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana Pinaceae) to historic environmental variability. The Southwestern Naturalist. 41(3): 227-238. 3. Miller, Ronald K. 1997. Southwest woodlands: Cultural uses of the ``forgotten forest'' Journal of Forestry. 95(11): 24-28.