 | Juniperus cedrus Webb & Berthelot 1847Common NamesCanary Islands juniper; Spanish: Cedro Canario (2).Taxonomic notesSection Juniperus. Closely allied to J. oxycedrus of the Mediterranean region, from which it differs in the larger tree size, more regular branching and often glaucous leaves. Also close to J. brevifolia of the Azores Is., which differs in shorter and even more glaucous leaves.DescriptionTree previously recorded to 30 m (1), or shrub at high altitudes. Bark orange-brown, peeling in coarse vertical strings. Branches level, upcurved toward tips, with pendulous branchlets. Leaves in decussate whorls of three, subulate to acicular, 1-2 cm, green to glaucous on back, single narrow white stomatal bands either side of the midrib on the inner face. Dioecious, with male and female cones on different trees. Mature seed cones globose, 8-12 mm, green ripening orange-red c.18 months after pollination; with 1(2) whorls of 3 scales; seeds 3. (3, 4).RangeCanary Islands: La Palma and Tenerife, at up to 2300 m elevation. USDA hardiness zone 8-9.Big TreeThe largest and oldest surviving wild trees are on the cliffs of La Caldera de Taburiente National Park on La Palma island (1), but I do not have any details.OldestDendrochronologyEthnobotanyThe very valuable timber was extensively harvested in the first 500 years of Spanish occupation of the Islands; now commercially extinct but replanting is in progress (2).ObservationsWild trees / large shrubs are easiest to see in Las Cañadas National Park, Tenerife, at La Fortaleza, a cliff on the NE part of the caldera wall of the dormant Teide volcano, an easy 4 km walk NW on a good path from the bus stop at El Portillo, the entrance to Las Cañadas NP (2, 3, 4). This is a high altitude treeline population at 2100 m, with short glaucous leaves and small cones; some similar young trees are planted at 2080 m at the café at El Portillo (3, 4). A plantation at Aguamansa, above Puerto de la Cruz at 1100 m altitude, planted c.1950, shows the potential of this species in the northern cloud belt; already about 15 m tall (a very fast growth rate for a Juniper) in 1991, they have telegraph-pole straight trunks to about 15-20 cm dbh, longer leaves to 2 cm and large (12 mm) cones (4).RemarksListed as endangered on the 1996 IUCN Red List (available at various places online; use your search engine). The decline was due to overharvesting for timber, and grazing by goats which prevented regeneration; both were stopped in 1950 since when it has been carefully protected. The wild populations which survived on remote cliffs are slowly expanding again, and artificial regeneration is also being used successfully.A highly attractive species, well deserving of increased planting as an ornamental in mild areas. Citations(1) Dallimore & Jackson 1966.(2) Ashmole, M. & P. Ashmole 1989. Natural history excursions in Tenerife. Peebles: Kidston Mill Press. (3) Frankis, M.P. 1992. Conifers of Tenerife. Conifer Society of Australia Newsletter 11: 5-7. (4) M.P. Frankis, field notes, Tenerife, April 1991. This page prepared by M.P. Frankis, Mar-1999. |
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