Family |
Cupressaceae
Juniperus drupacea
Labill.
Juniperus drupacea Labill.
First published in Icon. Pl. Syr. 2: 4 (1791).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 1, p. 19, Pl. VII, 1; 1966)
Description
Life-form & habit: Dioecious tree reaching 20 m, often narrowly upright but sometimes developing a broad crown; branches greyish and young branchlets reddish.
Leaves: Needle-like, in whorls of three, 12–25 mm long and 3–5 mm wide; usually sharply pointed, glaucous above and green beneath.
Seed cones: Large, berry-like cones reaching 25 mm across, initially glaucous, later reddish-brown beneath a bluish waxy bloom. The nine scales remain visible; the seeds unite into a hard, stone-like body reaching 15 mm across.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Reproductive cones appear in spring.
Habitat & elevation: Localized in mountain woodland and cedar-forest areas.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Mayfouk, Douma, Jabal Barouk, Ain Zehalta, Jabal Moussa above Mchatta, Danniyeh, Wadi Sirhin north of Sir, Ehmej–Laqlouq, the Cedars, Mount Hermon, Fnaidek, Sannine, Tannourine, Yammouneh, Aakoura and Makmel.
Syrian distribution: Slenfe and Jaoubat Bourghal.
Native range: Greece, Lebanon-Syria, Türkiye.
⚠️ Taxonomic note:
Treated in Mouterde under Arceuthos drupacea (Labill.) Antoine & Kotschy, a synonym of the accepted name Juniperus drupacea Labill.