Juniperus monosperma – Oneseed Juniper
Scientific Name: Juniperus monosperma
Synonyms: Juniperus occidentalis var. gymnocarpa, Sabina monosperma
Common Names: Oneseed Juniper, One-seed Juniper
Duration: Perennial, Evergreen
Growth Habit: Tree, Shrub
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Upland, Mountain
Flower Color: Non-flowering (produces only pollen cones or seed cones)
Height: To 40 feet (12 m) tall, but usually much less
Description: These plants are dioecious. The seed cones are fleshy, round, resinous, usually single-seeded, and are initially green but mature to a glaucous reddish to brownish blue and dry to a rust color. The leaves are tiny, green, and scale-like. The bark is gray and shredding. The trunk is heavily branched at or near the base.
The similar Redberry Juniper (Juniperus coahuilensis) has bright red-brown cones, while Alligator Juniper (Juniperus deppeana) has bark patterned like an alligator's back. The other Juniperus species in Arizona are found in the more northern parts of the state.
Allergenic – The pollen is a moderate allergen.
Edible – The cones (juniper berries) are edible, but they are small and have thin flesh.
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Coniferophyta – Conifers
Family: Cupressaceae – Cypress family
Genus: Juniperus L. – juniper
Species: Juniperus monosperma (Engelm.) Sarg. – oneseed juniper
More About This Plant