Introductory
SPECIES: Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper 



ABBREVIATION : 
JUNHOR

SYNONYMS : 
NO-ENTRY


SCS PLANT CODE : 
   JUHO2


COMMON NAMES : 
   creeping juniper
   creeping cedar


TAXONOMY : 
The currently accepted scientific name of creeping juniper is Juniperus
horizontalis Moench.  Creeping juniper is noted for its wide
morphological variation [1,13].  In some instances, variation within a
single colony can be as great as within the species as a whole [1,13].
Creeping juniper generally exhibits distinctive characteristics except
in certain locations where it occurs with eastern redcedar (J.
virginiana) [35] or Rocky Mountain juniper (J. scopulorum) [13].  Here,
intergradation or individuals with intermediate characteristics occur,
as creeping juniper readily hybridizes with both of these species.

Creeping juniper hybridizes with eastern redcedar on the eastern edge of
the driftless area of Wisconsin, along the coast of Maine, and in New
York [16,35].  Hybrid swarms made up of junipers with characteristics
intermediate between the two species occur in these areas [13,31].
Creeping juniper also readily hybridizes with Rocky Mountain juniper in
areas of overlap [7,15].  Such hybrids have been described in parts of
Montana and in southern Alberta [2].  These hybrids typically exhibit a
number of intermediate characteristics [7,15], although researchers
report that growth habit is a good indicator of hybridization between
creeping juniper and Rocky Mountain juniper [2].  These hybrids occur as
decumbent shrubs with foliage mostly resembling that of Rocky Mountain
juniper.  Hybrids between creeping juniper and eastern redcedar and
between creeping juniper and Rocky Mountain juniper have been treated as
separate varieties:  J. v. var. ambigens Fassett and J. v.  var.  patens
Fassett, respectively [1,2].  This treatment is no longer followed by
the majority of taxonomists [2].


LIFE FORM : 
Shrub

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
D. Tirmenstein, December 1988.
 


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Tirmenstein, D. A. 1988. Juniperus horizontalis. In: Remainder of Citation

Related categories for Species: Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper