Juniperus coahuilensis, redberry juniper
Sullivan, Janet. 1993. Juniperus coahuilensis, redberry juniper. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/species-reviews/juncoa
| Abbreviation | Common Name | Scientific Name | Classification | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plants | ||||
| JUNCOA | redberry juniper | Juniperus coahuilensis | Life Form: Plants/Shrub, Plants/Tree Kingdom: Plantae Class: Conifer Order: Pinales Family: Cupressaceae Genus: Juniperus | Fed. Protected: No Nativity: Native Invasiveness: Noninvasive |
Taxonomy
The currently accepted scientific name for redberry juniper is Juniperus coahuilensis (Martinez) Gaussen [10,26,27]. Confusion about the correct name for this entity arose over its morphological resemblance to oneseed juniper (J. monosperma) and over its red cones, which resemble those of Pinchot juniper (J. pinchottii). Redberry juniper intergrades with Pinchot juniper in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, where their ranges overlap. There is a probable hybrid swarm in the Basin of the Chisos Mountains, Texas [1,14]. Zanoni and Adams [24] determined that redberry juniper and Pinchot juniper are the most closely related junipers based on similarity of leaf oil terpenoids and other characters.
Synonyms
- Juniperus erythrocarpa var. coahuilensis Martinez [23]
- Juniperus texensis Van Melle [25]
Other Common Names
rose-fruited juniper
General Distribution
Redberry juniper occurs in disjunct populations from western Texas (Trans-Pecos), southwestern New Mexico, and southern Arizona south to San Luis Potosi, Mexico [10,14].
States and Provinces
- United States: AZ NM TX
- Mexico
Site Characteristics
Redberry juniper with opuntia spp., Jeff Davis County, Texas. (CC BY-NC 4.0)
In Trans-Pecos Texas junipers are most common on rocky or poor soils [14]. Redberry juniper occurs most often on dry, well-drained soils in full sun [19]. It occurs at elevations of 4,000 feet (1,200 m) to 6,500 feet (2,000 m) through its range [1,16].
Plant Communities
In the Southwest junipers (Juniperus spp.) are associated with oaks (Quercus spp.) and true pinyon (Pinus edulis). Junipers increase in dominance over oaks and pinyons on dry sites [14]. Redberry juniper is common in alligator juniper (J. deppeana)-pinyon woodlands and savannas, and in areas where its range overlaps with Utah juniper (J. osteosperma), oneseed juniper (J. monosperma), and Rocky Mountain juniper (J. scopulorum) [8]. It occurs in evergreen oak woodlands with Emory oak (Q. emoryi) and Mexican blue oak (Q. oblongifolia) [11]. Redberry juniper is also found in Arizona chaparral woodlands with shrub live oak (Q. turbinella) and Arizona rosewood (Vauquelinia californica) [20]. It occurs as scattered individuals in grama (Bouteloua spp.) grasslands, along with scattered velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina), Mexican blue oak, and alligator juniper [14].
A publication listing redberry juniper as a codominant species is as follows:
- Classification of pinyon-juniper (p-j) sites on National Forests in the Southwest [12]
Botanical Description
Redberry juniper with its berry-like cones, Jeff Davis County, Texas. (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Redberry juniper is a native, evergreen, small tree or large shrub. Mature height usually ranges from 12 to 15 feet (3.6-4.5 m), with spreading and ascending branches forming an open, irregular crown. The ovulate cones contain one seed [15]. The bark is shreddy, but is formed close to the trunk. Redberry juniper tends to have a central erect stem with lower branches originating near the ground level [5].
Raunkiaer Life Form (Raunkiaer 1934)
- Phanerophyte
Seasonal Development
Redberry juniper is pollinated in late fall, and the ovulate cones mature in late spring [5]. Most juniper seeds germinate in spring [7].
Regeneration Processes
Redberry juniper reproduces by seed. Further information specific to reproduction in redberry juniper is not available. Pinchot juniper is one of the few juniper species known to sprout after top-kill, and it is closely related to redberry juniper. In most junipers germination may be delayed up to 2 years through embryo dormancy, seedcoat impermeability, or chemical inhibitors. Juniper seedling establishment is enhanced by light shade, which helps maintain adequate moisture [7].
Successional Status
Facultative Seral Species
Redberry juniper is intolerant of shade [7]. Junipers often invade grasslands and are gradually replaced by pinyons [7].
Immediate Fire Effects
Specific information on the immediate effect of fire on redberry juniper is lacking in the literature.
Postfire Regeneration Strategy (Stickney 1989)
- Tree without adventitious-bud root crown
- Secondary colonizer - off-site seed
Fire Adaptations
Redberry juniper occurs on juniper savannas, which are kept open by fire. Fires in these habitats tend to be surface fires carried by grasses, which burn so rapidly that heat levels lethal to large redberry juniper are rarely generated [7]. Fire-free intervals of 10 years or more are usually sufficient to allow juniper (Juniperus spp.) saplings to reach fire-resistant size: about 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m) [22]. Redberry juniper occurs in evergreen oak woodlands [11] which experience rapidly burning grass fires approximately every 10 to 20 years [22].
In some areas, junipers (probably including redberry juniper) are encroaching on grasslands that were historically kept clear of trees and shrubs by very frequent fires. Climatic changes and intensive livestock grazing have also been implicated in this encroachment [7].
Plant Response to Fire
No entry.
Fire Regimes
For fire regime information, search FEIS for this species by entering the species name on the Advanced Search page and selecting “Fire Regime” as the publication type.
Fire Management Considerations
No entry.
Federal Status
None
Other Status
None
Importance to Wildlife and Livestock
The fleshy, berry-like cones of redberry juniper are eaten by at least four species of songbirds, Gambel's quail, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, rock squirrels, Hopi chipmunks, and probably other birds and mammals [14,21].
Palatability and Nutritional Value
No entry.
Cover Value
No entry.
Value for Rehabilitation or Restoration of Disturbed Sites
No entry.
Other Uses
Redberry juniper wood is used locally for posts and fuel [21].
Juniper bark was used by Native Americans to make mats, saddles, and other items. They also used the seeds for beads or ground the fleshy cones for flour [14,21].
Other Management Considerations
No entry.
Table A1— Forest and range ecosystems, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) physiographic regions, Kuchler plant associations, Society for American Foresters (SAF) forest cover types, and Society for Rangeland Management (SRM) rangeland cover types in which this species occurs.
Forest and Range Ecosystems (Garrison et al. 1977)
- FRES33 Southwestern shrubsteppe
- FRES34 Chaparral - mountain shrub
- FRES35 Pinyon - juniper
- FRES40 Desert grasslands
BLM Physiographic Regions (Bernard and Brown 1977)
- 7 Lower Basin and Range
- 13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont
Kuchler Plant Associations (Kuchler 1964)
- K023 Juniper - pinyon woodland
- K031 Oak - juniper woodlands
- K058 Grama - tobosa shrubsteppe
- K059 Trans-Pecos shrub savanna
SAF Cover Types (Eyre 1980)
- 66 Ashe - redberry (Pinchot) juniper
- 239 Pinyon - juniper
- 241 Western live oak
SRM Rangeland Cover Types (Shiflet 1994)
- No entry.
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2. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 169 p. [434]
3. Bowers, Janice E.; McLaughlin, Steven P. 1987. Flora and vegetation of the Rincon Mountains, Pima County, Arizona. Desert Plants. 8(2): 50-94. [495]
4. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]
5. Fletcher, Reggie A. 1985. Differentiation of Juniperus erythrocarpa and Juniperus monosperma. Range Notes No. 3. Albuquerque, NM: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Region. 5 p. [22198]
6. Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; [and others]. 1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p. [998]
7. Gottfried, Gerald J. 1992. Ecology and management of the southwestern pinyon-juniper woodlands. In: Ffolliott, Peter F.; Gottfried, Gerald J.; Bennett, Duane A.; [and others], technical coordinators. Ecology and management of oaks and associated woodlands: perspectives in the sw United States & n Mexico: Proceedings; 1992 April 27-30; Sierra Vista, AZ. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-218. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 78-86. [19745]
8. Hill, Alison. 1990. Ecology and classification of the pinyon-juniper woodlands in western New Mexico. Las Cruces, NM: New Mexico State University. 75 p. Dissertation. In: Dissertation Abstracts International. 51(11): 5116-B. [1991]. [24518]
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12. Moir, W. H.; Carleton, J. O. 1987. Classification of pinyon-juniper (p-j) sites on National Forests in the Southwest. In: Everett, Richard L., compiler. Proceedings--pinyon-juniper conference; 1986 January 13-16; Reno, NV. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-215. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 216-226. [6852]
13. Pieper, Rex D. 1992. Species composition of woodland communities in the Southwest. In: Ffolliott, Peter F.; Gottfried, Gerald J.; Bennett, Duane A.; [and others], technical coordinators. Ecology and management of oak and assoiciated woodlands: perspectives in the sw United States & n Mexico: Proceedings; 1992 April 27-30; Sierra Vista, AZ. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-218. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 119-124. [19750]
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