Common Name: Aligator Juniper

General Information

Juniperus deppeana is an evergreen tree with a rounded crown; it usually grows 10 - 15 metres tall, but can reach 30 metres. The tree has a very distinct bark that cracks up into curious small squares[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens.
Although some forms of this species (the varieties robusta, sperryi and zacatecensis) are listed as 'Threatened', the species as a whole is stable. The most widespread form (var deppeana) is spreading in grasslands where grazing cattle have altered the balance between shrubs and grasses. In other parts mature trees are declining in numbers due to cutting; in balance therefore the total population may be more or less stable. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

South-western N. America - Arizona, western Texas and Mexico.

Habitat

Grassland, scrubland, Pinyon-Juniper woodland, open pine forests; in semi-arid mountains and the more arid intermountain zone on dry, rocky slopes; valleys and flats with sandy soils, limestone etc; at elevations from 750 - 2,750 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Juniperus deppeana is not a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate short-lived temperatures down to around -8°c when fully dormant[]. It is native to semi-arid and sub-humid areas where mean annual rainfall is around 300 - 560mm; growing well in regions with hot, dry summers and able to withstand winter frost well[]. It does not do well in moist or cool climates, even if the winters are mild[, ].
Requires a hot dry position in full sun[]. Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[]. It is found wild in a range of soils, though they tend to be shallow, rocky and of low fertility[].It generally does well on lime[].
In horticulture Alligator Juniper is suitable as an ornamental tree in regions with hot, dry summers[].
A very slow-growing tree, it ceases growth in dry conditions and only starts regrowing when moisture returns[].
A long-lived tree, specimens up to 500 years old are known[, ].
This species is noted for its prolific sprouting ability - it can produce new shoots from shallow roots, the root crown, or epicormic buds located along the branches or trunk. It generally sprouts prolifically whenever the top is damaged, and consequently is not significantly reduced by most mechanical treatments. Sprouting often occurs after removal or death of the main trunk. Younger trees sprout more readily than older plants, with sprouting ability declining as stump diameters increase. Plants 60cm or larger in diameter rarely sprout[, ].
The plant usually survives moderate forest fires undamaged, and can resprout from the base if top-killed[].
The seed takes two summers to ripen[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , ]. A dry and mealy texture[, ] but with a sweet and palatable taste[, ]. The fruit can also be dried, ground into a meal and prepared as a mush or cakes[, , ]. The fruit has a sweetish palatable pulp[]. The reddish tan to dark reddish brown, globose seed cones take two years to mature; they are of two distinct sizes ranging from 8 - 15mm in diameter and containing 3 - 6 seeds[].

Medicinal

The seed cones were used medicinally[].

Other Uses

An essential oil obtained from the plant is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations for perfumery and for masking an aroma of the product[].
The seed cones have been used as an ingredient in incense[].

The dried fruits have been used as beads to make necklaces[].

The shreddy bark burns wekk and has been used to make torches[].

Extracts of the wood may have value in industry. Those obtained from morphologically similar species are used in making pharmaceuticals, perfumes, polishes, and insecticides[].

The wood is light in weight, soft, not strong, brittle, close grained[]. A fragrant wood with an attractive grain and colour[]. Although easily worked, it is of limited value as lumber because large trees are usually too few and scattered[]. When wood of sufficient dimensions are obtained it can be used for making furniture and various novelty products such as bookends, lamp bases, or small chests. Because of its durability, it is also often used for fence postsl[, , ]. The wood may have potential for producing pulp, fibre, chip products, and particleboard, and has also been used to make veneer[].
The wood is an excellent fuel. It is easy to split, burns with a pleasant aroma and has a relatively high heat value. It has also been used for making charcoal[].

Propagation

The seed requires a period of cold stratification. The seed has a hard seedcoat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 - 3 months duration[, ]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[]. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some might germinate in the following spring, though most will take another year. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (when the embryo has fully formed but before the seedcoat has hardened). The seedlings can be potted up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in pots until large enough, then plant out in early summer. When stored dry, the seed can remain viable for several years[].
Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/early autumn in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn[, ].
Layering in September/early autumn. Takes 12 months[].