Participant Info

Species

Juniperus scopulorum [Sabina scopulorum]

Family

Cupressaceae

CommonName

Rocky Mountain juniper

Presence

Yes

Status

native

EarliestDate

1929

LatestDate

2020

Ecosystem

basin, shrubland, foothill, montane, sanddunes

Geobotanical

SSawatch, Garitas, SSanjuans, Culebras, NCristos, UBasin, LBasin

Counties

Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache, Archuleta

Passes

WildlifePreserves

Baca, Big Meadows Reservoir, Coller, Great Sand Dunes, Hot Creek, Mountain Home Reservoir, Rio Grande, Terrace Reservoir

Other Localities

Alamosa (town), La Botica

PhotoRecords

YES Rich Haswell: Rio Grande Co, Chico trail 0.25 miles S of Del Norte 3 March 2020

Comments

Rocky Mountain juniper plays a central role in the foothill ecosystem on both sides of the Valley. It provides shelter for deer and food for cedar waxwings. Its USA range is primarily the Central Rockies and Great Basin, but it is present in all Western states except for California. It follows the Rio Grande drainage down to the Big Bend country of Texas.

Annotation