Redberry juniper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redberry juniper |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Juniperus
|
| Species: |
coahuilensis
|
The redberry juniper (scientific name: Juniperus coahuilensis) is a type of conifer tree. Conifers are trees that usually have needles and cones, like pine trees. The redberry juniper belongs to the cypress family, called Cupressaceae.
Contents
Where Redberry Juniper Grows
The redberry juniper is a shrubby tree found in warm, dry places. You can find it in northern Mexico and parts of the Southwestern United States. This includes central and southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and West Texas. It even grows in famous places like Big Bend National Park.
This tree likes to live in high desert grasslands. It grows at elevations from about 1,200 to 2,000 meters (about 3,900 to 6,500 feet) above sea level. It often grows in grasslands with specific types of grasses called Bouteloua and in rocky areas nearby. In Mexico, you might also see it in deep valleys called canyons or on flat areas formed by rivers, known as alluvial fans. In the Chihuahuan Desert and Sonoran Desert areas, it often grows near prickly pear cacti (Opuntia species) or Yucca plants.
What Redberry Juniper Looks Like
The redberry juniper grows as a large shrub or a small tree. It can reach up to 8 meters (about 26 feet) tall. It usually has many trunks instead of just one main trunk. The bark is brown to gray and peels off in long strips, especially on older trunks and branches.
Its leaves are green or light green. They have special glands that can produce a white, crystal-like substance on their surface.
The cones of the redberry juniper are quite unique. Unlike the hard, woody cones you might think of, these are fleshy and look more like berries. They start as a yellowish-orange color and turn dark red when they are ripe. They are about 6 to 7 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. These "berry-like" cones take about one year to fully mature.
How Redberry Juniper Survives Fires
This species is special because it can grow back from its stump after being cut or burned. This ability has likely helped it survive in grasslands. Grasslands often have natural fires that would kill other types of juniper trees. But the redberry juniper can sprout new growth and continue to live.
Ancient History of Redberry Juniper
Scientists have found evidence that redberry juniper existed a very long time ago. Fossils of this species have been found in the Waterman Mountains in Arizona. These fossils show that the tree was present during the end of the last Ice Age, known as the Late Wisconsin Glacial Episode. This means the redberry juniper has been a part of the North American landscape for thousands of years!
