BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary
Juniperus maritima
seaside juniper
| Scientific Name: | Juniperus maritima R.P. Adams | ||||||||||
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| English Name: | seaside juniper | ||||||||||
| Classification / Taxonomy | |||||||||||
| Scientific Name - Concept Reference: | Adams, R. P. 2007. Juniperus maritima, the Seaside Juniper, a new species from Puget Sound, North America. Phytologia 89(3): 263-283. | ||||||||||
| Classification Level: | Species | ||||||||||
| Species Group: | Vascular Plant | ||||||||||
| Species Code: | JUNIMAR | ||||||||||
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| Conservation Status / Legal Designation | |||||||||||
| Global Status: | G3G4 (Jul 2016) | ||||||||||
| Provincial Status: | S4S5 (Apr 2019) | ||||||||||
| BC List: | Yellow | ||||||||||
| Provincial FRPA list: | |||||||||||
| Provincial Wildlife Act: | |||||||||||
| COSEWIC Status: | |||||||||||
| SARA Schedule: | |||||||||||
| General Status Canada: | 3 - Sensitive (2010) | ||||||||||
| Ecology & Life History | |||||||||||
| General Description: | |||||||||||
| Technical Description: | |||||||||||
| Diagnostic Characteristics: | Adams (2007) reported that this species differs from J. scopulorum in that the seed cones mature in 1 year (14-16 months), seeds are usually exserted from the cone, and the scale leaf tips are obtuse; and that it differs from J. virginiana in having larger seed cones (6-8 mm) that are often reniform, seeds usually exserted from the cone, scale leaves overlap less than 1/5 the length, and branchlets are smooth and reddish-brown (more details in Table 3 of article). However, subsequent work suggested that geography was the only field character that could reliably distinguish this species from J. scopulorum; apparently, even the exserted seeds (the trait which in general seemed consistent among the low elevation plants) are the result of insect activity, and if they are missing from higher elevation plants it may be that the insects are simply not present (R. Adams, pers. comm. to J. Arnett 2008). | ||||||||||
| Similar Species: | |||||||||||
| Habitats: (Type / Subtype / Dependence) |
Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Facultative - frequent use
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| Global Habitat Comments: | The species was originally described from populations at seasides or lakesides on granite or sand (usually found in rocky areas but sometimes on coastal sand dunes, often within meters of the water) (Adams 2007). However, subsequent study found the species to be more widespread in Washington than originally believed, with some of the additional sites at higher elevations on the Olympic peninsula, where associates include lowland rocky bald species. | ||||||||||
| Provincial Habitat Comments: |
A striking aspect of the Puget Sound, seaside junipers is their habitat. They all grow at the seaside (or lakeside) on granite or sand. This is a very different kind of habitat than that found in Juniperus scopulorum and J. virginiana. Juniperus scopulorum grows on dry, rocky mountainous soils. Juniperus virginiana is more cosmopolitan, growing in limestone areas as well as deep soils. Both Juniperus scopulorum and J. virginiana are weedy junipers that invade old fields and disturbed roadsides (Adams, 2008). In contrast, the seaside juniper is not weedy and usually appears as if it is relictual (i.e., older trees, with few or no seedlings). The Puget Sound juniper's habitat seems to be very restricted and has only been collected in a few locations. The Puget Sound climate is very different than the Rocky Mountain or the eastern US climates, having a mild, wet regime. In short, the Puget Sound juniper has evolved physiological genes to facilitate its growth in such an environment (Adams, 2007). |
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| Provincial Phenology: (1st half of month/ 2nd half of month) |
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| Elevation (m) (min / max): | Provincial: | ||||||||||
| Known Pests: | |||||||||||
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| Dispersal: | |||||||||||
| Provincial Inventory | |||||||||||
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| Ownership of occurrences (Known locations): | |||||||||||
| Inventory Need: | |||||||||||
| Economic Attributes | |||||||||||
| Distribution | |||||||||||
| Endemic: | N | ||||||||||
| Global Range Comment: | Juniperus maritima occurs in Canada and the United States. It is known from the Puget Trough and Olympic Peninsula in Washington, where it appears to be reasonably widespread (J. Arnett, pers. comm., 2008). In British Columbia, It is known from southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands (J. Penny pers. comm. 2008). | ||||||||||
| Disjunct, more common elsewhere: | N | ||||||||||
| Peripheral, major distribution elsewhere: | N | ||||||||||
| Authors / Contributors | |||||||||||
| Global Information Author: | |||||||||||
| Last Updated: | |||||||||||
| Provincial Information Author: | Donovan, M. | ||||||||||
| Last Updated: | Aug 22, 2008 | ||||||||||
| Last Literature Search: | |||||||||||
| References and Related Literature | |||||||||||
Adams, R. P. 2007. Juniperus maritima, the Seaside Juniper, a new species from Puget Sound, North America. Phytologia 89(3): 263-283. |
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Adams, R.P. 2008b. Junipers of the World: The Genus Juniperus. 2nd Edition. Trafford Pulblishing Co. Vancouver, B.C. 402 pp. |
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USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, PLANTS Database [USDA PLANTS]. http://plants.usda.gov/. Accessed 2015. |
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. Species Summary: Juniperus maritima. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Apr 25, 2025).