Juniperus maritima
Encyclopedia
Juniperus maritima is a species of juniper known by the common name seaside juniper. It is native to the Puget Sound
region in southwestern British Columbia
and northwestern Washington, where it is not uncommon. It was previously included in the description of the Rocky Mountain juniper
(Juniperus scopulorum) but was separated in 2007. Genetic analysis
revealed that what appeared to be Rocky Mountain junipers in the Puget Sound were not of the same species as those elsewhere. The Puget Sound species also differs in morphology
, with faster-maturing cones
that have protruding seeds, and other differences. It is especially unique in habitat
. The seaside juniper occurs at the edge of the water, next to the sound or the nearby lakes, in a milder, wetter climate on sandy, granite
soils, even sand dunes
in one location. P. scopulorum grows in drier, rockier substrates in colder locations higher in the mountains. It is also noted that seaside juniper reproduces itself and does not interbreed with other junipers, further evidence that it should be called a separate species.
In general the seaside juniper is common to abundant in its native range; however, it is impacted by development
at some sites and it can face competition from Douglas-fir
.
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
region in southwestern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and northwestern Washington, where it is not uncommon. It was previously included in the description of the Rocky Mountain juniper
Juniperus scopulorum
Juniperus scopulorum is a species of juniper native to western North America, in Canada in British Columbia and southwest Alberta, in the United States from Washington east to North Dakota, south to Arizona and also locally western Texas, and northernmost Mexico from Sonora east to Coahuila...
(Juniperus scopulorum) but was separated in 2007. Genetic analysis
Genetic analysis
Genetic analysis can be used generally to describe methods both used in and resulting from the sciences of genetics and molecular biology, or to applications resulting from this research....
revealed that what appeared to be Rocky Mountain junipers in the Puget Sound were not of the same species as those elsewhere. The Puget Sound species also differs in morphology
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
, with faster-maturing cones
Conifer cone
A cone is an organ on plants in the division Pinophyta that contains the reproductive structures. The familiar woody cone is the female cone, which produces seeds. The male cones, which produce pollen, are usually herbaceous and much less conspicuous even at full maturity...
that have protruding seeds, and other differences. It is especially unique in habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
. The seaside juniper occurs at the edge of the water, next to the sound or the nearby lakes, in a milder, wetter climate on sandy, granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
soils, even sand dunes
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
in one location. P. scopulorum grows in drier, rockier substrates in colder locations higher in the mountains. It is also noted that seaside juniper reproduces itself and does not interbreed with other junipers, further evidence that it should be called a separate species.
In general the seaside juniper is common to abundant in its native range; however, it is impacted by development
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
at some sites and it can face competition from Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
.