Question: Follow up on my Juniperus. The plant is in Belchertown wetlands, off George Hannum street, right at the edge of …
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Question
Follow up on my Juniperus. The plant is in Belchertown wetlands, off George Hannum street, right at the edge of a clearing made in 2018 for a housing development. Here is the whole plant, to the extent it can be seen. Thanks for the education. I don't know why I did not consider Juniper - I guess because I thought the needles were too open. They are prickly though, so I should have.
Answer
markfanty, yes, Juniperus communis is unusual relative to the other species in New England. While they (J. virginiana and J. horizontilis) have opposite leaves that are imbricate and clothe (i.e., conceal) the branchlets, Juniperus communis (photographed by you) has whorled leaves that do not conceal the branchlets. Best wishes.
