BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Juniperus ashei | Ashe Juniper 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Ashe juniper is a small, native, evergreen tree or shrub.  It is usually
many-stemmed and rarely grows over 30 feet (9 m) tall.  The bark is
shreddy and thin [41].  Ashe juniper has strong taproots and has
extensive lateral roots in the surface foot of soil [18].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Ashe juniper becomes sexually mature when 10 to 20 years old.  Heavy
seed crops are produced irregularly, but some seeds are usually produced
each year.  The embryo is usually dormant, and the seeds may take 2 to 3
years to germinate.  There is probably some seedbank built up in the
soil; Ashe juniper seeds retained 50 percent of originial viability
after 4 years of storage in high humidity at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4
deg C) [23].

Ashe juniper does not reproduce asexually.


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Historically, Ashe juniper occurred only on rock outcrops or dissected
upland limestones but in the last century has spread to adjacent
grasslands [20,42].  It usually occurs on shallow, limestone-derived
soils [18,41].

Overstory associates not previously mentioned include Shumard oak
(Quercus shumardii), harvard oak (Q. harvardii), post oak (Q. stellata),
sugarberry (Celtis laevigata), Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana), black
walnut (Juglans nigra), and redberry juniper [13,48,51,57,58].

Understory associates not previously mentioned include blue grama
(Bouteloua gracilis), sideoats grama (B.  curtipendula), tall grama (B.
pectinata), buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides), curlymesquite (Hilaria
belangeri), vine-mesquite (Panicum obtusum), Wright threeawn (Aristida
wrightii), hairy tridens (Tridens pilosus), Texas wintergrass (Stipa
leucotricha), whitebrush (Aloysia gratissima), and huisache (Acacia
smallii) [38,57].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Facultative Seral Species

Ashe juniper can form dense climax stands ("cedar brakes") that suppress
the growth of understory species.  Growth inhibitors contribute to such
suppression [6,8,50].  The extensive lateral root system at the surface
of the soil contributes to its competitive success in xeric
environments; dense stands of Ashe juniper are resistant to invasion
[18].

Most species of juniper are intolerant to very intolerant of shade.
Ashe juniper is probably intolerant of shade.


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
The staminate catkins of Ashe juniper open in early spring [23].
Pollination of the ovulate cones occurs at this time; the fruit develops
through its first summer and is ripe in early fall and winter.  The
"berries" usually persist through the winter [47].  Germination is in
the spring, usually after one, two, or three winters [23].

Related categories for Species: Juniperus ashei | Ashe Juniper