View source for Biology:Juniperus procumbens

{{Short description|Species of conifer}}
{{Speciesbox
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Farjon, A. |author2=Carter, G. |date=2013 |title=''Juniperus procumbens'' |volume=2013 |page=e.T42246A2966301 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42246A2966301.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Juniperus procumbens nana MN 2007.JPG
| image_caption = Plant of cultivar 'Nana'
| parent= Juniperus sect. Sabina
| genus = Juniperus
| species = procumbens
| authority = (Siebold ex Endl.) Miquel
}}

'''''Juniperus procumbens''''' is a [[Biology:Species|species]] of shrub in the cypress family Cupressaceae, [[Earth:Native species|native]] to Japan. This low-growing [[Biology:Evergreen|evergreen]] [[Biology:Conifer|conifer]] is closely related to the Chinese juniper, ''[[Biology:Juniperus chinensis|Juniperus chinensis]]'', and is sometimes treated as a variety of it, as ''J. chinensis'' var. ''procumbens''.<ref name=farjon/><ref name=adams/>

==Description==
It is a [[Biology:Prostrate shrub|prostrate shrub]], usually growing {{convert|20-30|cm|in|abbr=off|frac=2}} tall, occasionally {{convert| 50|cm|in|abbr=on}}; while it does not get very tall it can get quite wide, {{convert|2-4|m|ft|abbr=|frac=2}} across or more, with long prostrate branches. The branches tend to intertwine and form a dense mat. The leaves are arranged in decussate whorls of three; all the leaves are juvenile form, needle-like, {{Convert|6–8|mm|frac=16}} long and 1–1.5&nbsp;mm broad, with two white [[Biology:Stoma|stoma]]tal bands on the inner face. It is dioecious with separate male and female plants. The [[Conifer cone|cones]] are berry-like, globose, 8–9&nbsp;mm in diameter, dark blackish-brown with a pale blue-white waxy bloom, and contain two or three [[Biology:Seed|seed]]s (rarely one); they are mature in about 18 months. The male cones are 3–4&nbsp;mm long, and shed their pollen in early spring. It produces cones of only one sex on each plant.<ref name=farjon/><ref name=adams/><ref name=gd>Gymnosperm Database: [http://www.conifers.org/cu/ju/procumbens.htm ''Juniperus procumbens'']</ref>

==Distribution==
The status of ''Juniperus procumbens'' as a wild plant is disputed. Some authorities treat it as [[Biology:Endemism|endemic]] to high mountains on Kyūshū and a few other islands off southern Japan,<ref name=farjon>Farjon, A. (2005). ''Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys''. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. {{ISBN|1-84246-068-4}}</ref> while others consider it native to the coasts of southern Japan (north to Chiba Prefecture) and also the southern and western coasts of [[Place:Korea|Korea]].<ref name=adams>{{citation |author=Adams, R. P. |year=2014 |title=Junipers of the World |edition=4th |publisher=Trafford Publishing | isbn=978-1-4907-2325-9 |page=112 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u3CSAgAAQBAJ}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=January 2018}}

==Cultivation and uses==

[[File:Juniperus procumbens.jpg|thumb|Juniperus procumbens being trained as a [[Biology:Bonsai|bonsai]]. Its contorted trunk lines add interest and drama to the artistic composition.]]
[[Image:Bonsai Juniperus procumbens.jpg|thumb|A bonsai specimen of 'Nana']]
Several [[Biology:Cultivar|cultivar]]s have been selected, the most widely grown being 'Nana', a slow-growing procumbent plant,<ref name=adams/><ref name=wcc>Welch, H. & Haddow, G. (1993). ''The World Checklist of Conifers''. {{ISBN|0-900513-09-8}}</ref> which in the UK has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.<ref name = RHSPF>{{cite web
| url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/98531/i-Juniperus-procumbens-i-Nana/Details
| title = RHS Plantfinder - ''Juniperus procumbens'' 'Nana' | access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web  | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 56 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 14 March 2018}}</ref>  Others include 'Bonin Isles', a strong-growing mat-forming plant collected on the Bonin Islands,<ref name=wcc/> and 'Green Mound', which may just be a renaming of 'Nana'.<ref name=wcc/> A variegated plant sold under the name ''J. procumbens'' 'Variegata' is actually a cultivar of ''J. chinensis'' misnamed.<ref name=wcc/> {{Clear|left}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://conifersaroundtheworld.com/blog/juniperus_procumbens_japanese_mat_juniper Conifers Around the World: Juniperus procumbens - Japanese Mat Juniper].

{{Taxonbar|from=Q658749}}

[[Category:Juniperus|procumbens]]
[[Category:Dioecious plants]]

{{Sourceattribution|Juniperus procumbens}}