Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Juniperus deppeana Steudel
(Alligator Juniper)
Family: Cupressaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
Juniperus pachyphloea Torrey
Juniperus deppeana Steudel var., pachyphloea (Torrey) Martinez
Juniperus deppeana is the most common Juniper in Southwest New Mexico and the Gila National Forest. It has bark that reminds some of alligator skin. It is broken into sections and peels off in rectangles. The pollen producing trees are bright orange in late winter and in some areas an orange dust seems to blow into the air as pollen fills the air. Most leaves have resinous white exudate on them. The pollen cones are only a few millimeters long and at the ends of branches. The seed cones are round and berry-like with projections. They are glaucous and purple outside and mealy inside. Within the mealy matrix inside are three to five ovoid seeds. Unlike genus Cupressus, these seeds are not winged.
Please click on an image for a larger file.

Juniperus deppeana, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns, Knight Mtn., May 9, 2007

Juniperus deppeana, with cones, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, July 23, 2007

Juniperus deppeana, growth form, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Sheep Corral Road, Dec. 2, 2008

Juniperus deppeana, closeup of bark, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Gold Gulch, Dec. 7, 2008

Juniperus deppeana, growth form, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Gold Gulch, Dec. 7, 2008

Juniperus deppeana, 1x macro of twig with white exudate on leaves, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, Dec. 8, 2008

Juniperus deppeana, 3x macro of twig with white exudate on leaves, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, Dec. 8, 2008

Juniperus deppeana, macro of bisected seed cone with non-winged seeds, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, Dec. 18, 2008

Juniperus deppeana, macro of non-winged seeds, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, Dec. 18, 2008

Juniperus deppeana, 4x macro of pollen cone with pollen sacs, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, February 20, 2010

Juniperus deppeana, forma sperryi, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Black Range, trail to Rabb Park, May 12, 2011

Juniperus deppeana, forma sperryi (bark), photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Black Range, trail to Rabb Park, May 12, 2011
Back to the Index