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Juniperus grandis

R.P. Adams

Big Western Juniper

G4Apparently Secure Found in 87 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.155646
Element CodePGCUP05091
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumConiferophyta
ClassPinopsida
OrderPinales
FamilyCupressaceae
GenusJuniperus
Synonyms
Juniperus occidentalis ssp. australisVasekJuniperus occidentalis var. australis(Vasek) A.& N. Holmgren
Other Common Names
Grand Juniper (EN) Sierra Juniper (EN) Western Juniper (EN) western juniper (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
Analysis of DNA revealed that Juniperus occidentalis var. australis is more closely related to Juniperus osteosperma than to Juniperus occidentalis and led to the recognition of this taxon as a distinct species (Adams 2019). The previously published combination, Juniperus australis, was unavailable, therefore this entity was named Juniperus grandis (Adams et al. 2006).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-04-27
Change Date2023-04-27
Edition Date2023-04-27
Edition AuthorsMacBryde, Bruce (2000), rev. Eberly (2023)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Juniperus grandis is an evergreen conifer tree that occurs in the western United States in the mountains, primarily the Sierra Nevada, of California and western Nevada. This species is very long-lived, with individuals living for centuries. This species is common but scattered. It can be difficult to identify and is known to hybridize with other Juniperus.
Range Extent Comments
Juniperus grandis occurs in the western United States in the mountains, primarily the Sierra Nevada, of California and western Nevada (Adams 2018). It generally occurs on the east slopes of the Sierra Nevada but is also found in the Panamint, San Gabriel, and San Bernardino Mountains in southern California. Range extent was calculated using specimens mapped to the general region described by Adams (2018) providing a minimum estimate of 74,000 sq km (CCH2 2023). This species has also been reported from central Nevada (Miller et al. 2005).
Occurrences Comments
There may be over 600 occurrences, but the identifications of photo-based observations supporting this estimated are uncertain.
Threat Impact Comments
This species is not threatened by fire, as it occurs in rocky areas with very little fuel to support fires.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Juniperus grandis grows on dry rocky slopes in shallow soils at elevations of 1,000 to 3,000 m (Adams 2018).

Reproduction

This species is dioecious, and so typically bears either all male or all female cones on one plant.
Terrestrial Habitats
Bare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
NevadaS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationEVERGREEN
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (87)
California (78)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest7,968
Buckeye RidgeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,241
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest11,932
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
EbbettsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest255
FalesHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,138
Fawn LakeEldorado National Forest1,153
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Grouse LakesTahoe National Forest19,085
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
Heartbreak RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest4,455
Hoover - Cattle CkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest598
Hoover - EastHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest91
Hoover - Emma LakeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,007
Hoover - Green Ck NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest7,155
Hoover - Mt.olsenHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest624
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Hoover - Twin LakesHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest102
Hoover - Valley RidgeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest564
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,050
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Iceberg - Silver Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest294
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Long MeadowHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,967
Middle YubaTahoe National Forest7,379
Mokelumne - CharityHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest202
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
Mt. RebaStanislaus National Forest3,869
Mystic (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest836
Nevahbe RidgeInyo National Forest302
NightStanislaus National Forest3,173
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
Poison HoleEldorado National Forest2,627
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest2,518
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Robinson PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,835
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
Rose - IcelandHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,171
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
SherwinInyo National Forest3,140
Silver HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,423
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Sweetwater (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest19,241
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
TinemahaInyo National Forest27,060
Tioga LakeInyo National Forest829
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
Trail LakeLassen National Forest1,124
WaterhouseStanislaus National Forest4,394
Waterhouse AHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest33
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
Whisky CreekInyo National Forest865
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
WoodchuckSierra National Forest267
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
Nevada (9)
AreaForestAcres
Jobs Peak (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,342
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,644
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
Rose - Big MeadowsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest311
Rose - Davis Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,361
Rose - Dutch LouieHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest363
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,568
References (18)
  1. Adams, R.P. 2013. Hybridization between <i>Juniperus grandis</i>, <i>J. occidentalis</i> and <i>J. osteosperma</i> in northwest Nevada I: Terpenes, Leviathan Mine, Nevada. Phytologia 95(1).
  2. Adams, R.P. 2018. <i>Juniperus</i> of Canada and the United States: Taxonomy, Key and Distribution. Lundellia 21(1):1-34.
  3. Adams, R.P., S. Nguyen, J.A. Morris, and A.E. Schwarzbach. 2006. Re-examination of the taxonomy of the one-seeded, serrate leaf margined <i>Juniperus</i> of Southwestern United States and northern Mexico (Cupressaceae). Phytologia 88(3):299–309.
  4. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BCGI). 2023. PlantSearch. Online. Available: www.bgci.org/plant_search.php (accessed 2023).
  5. CCH2 Portal. 2023. Consortium of California Herbaria. Online. Available: https//:www.cch2.org/portal/index.php (accessed 2023).
  6. Charlet, D.A. 1996. Atlas of Nevada conifers: A phytogeographic reference. University of Nevada Press, Reno. 320 pp.
  7. Collingwood, G.H., and W. Brush. 1964. Knowing Your Trees. The American Forestry Association, Washington, DC. 349 pp.
  8. Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren, and J.L. Reveal. 1972. Intermountain flora: vascular plants of the intermountain West, U.S.A. Volume One. Hafner Publishing Company, New York. 270 pp.
  9. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1993a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 2. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xvi + 475 pp.
  10. Fowells, H.A. 1965. Silvics of Forest Trees of the United States. Division of Timber Management Research, Forest Service, USDA, Washington, D.C. 762 pages.
  11. Graf, M. 1999. Plants of the Tahoe Basin: Flowering plants, trees, and ferns. California Native Plant Society Press, Sacramento and Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 308 pp.
  12. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  13. Kartesz, J.T. 1988. A flora of Nevada. Ph.D. dissertation. Univ. of Nevada, Reno. 3 volumes. 1729 pp.
  14. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  15. Miller, R.F., J.D. Bates, T.J. Svejcar, F.D. Pierson, and L.E. Eddlemann. 2005. Biology, ecology, and management of western juniper (<i>Juniperus occidentalis</i>). Technical Bulletin 152. Oregon State University Agriculture Experiment Station. 77 pp.
  16. Munz, P.A. 1974. A flora of southern California. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1086 pp.
  17. Sargent, C.S. 1922. Manual of the trees of North America (exclusive of Mexico). Dover 2nd reprinted edition in 1965 of the 2nd edition of Sargent in 1922. Two volumes. 934 pp.
  18. Twisselmann, E.C. 1967. A flora of Kern County, California. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 395 pp.