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Chinese Juniper

Scientific Name : Juniperus chinensis L.
Common Name : Chinese Juniper
Chinese Name : 圓柏, 檜, 刺柏
Family : CUPRESSACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species

Anecdotes on plants

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Origins	China, hence the species epithet in its scientific name is “chinensis (of China)”. Distribution can also be found in Japan, South Korea, Myanmar and East Russia.
Applications	The wood of the Chinese Juniper possesses a unique fragrance. Besides, it is sturdy and resistant to decay. As a result, not only can it be made into stationary and artisanal goods, but also as a raw material for construction and furniture. Additionally, its roots, trunks, branches and leaves can be applied to extract the raw materials of cedrol and cedar oil. Lubricating oil can be extracted from its seeds. Applied in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the leaves and branches of the Chinese Juniper can dispel wind and cold, promote blood circulation and detoxify the body. The Chinese Juniper is also a common ornamental plant and street tree. Since its branches can be easily shaped into various forms through pruning, it has a high aesthetic value.
Cultivars	Numerous cultivars of Chinese Juniper exist. In Hong Kong, the most common one is the Dragon Juniperus Juniperus chinensis L. ‘Kaizuca’. It has a unique tree form that a crown is cylindrical to a columnar tower in shape, with branches often twisted when growing upward, looking like a group of lively green flames. It also resembles a dragon soaring through clouds and mist, hence giving it the name “Dragon Juniper (龍柏)” in Chinese. Its blue female cones are slightly covered with a whitish powdery coating, making it very eye-catching! Additionally, the cultivar Golden Chinese Juniperus Juniperus chinensis L. ‘Aurea’ is occasionally seen in Hong Kong. Its scalelike leaves are initially golden yellow.

Traits for identification

Growing habit	Evergreen shrub to tree.
Height	To 25 m.
Stems	Bark of trunk dark grey, longitudinally fissured into strips. Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) of main trunk to 3.5 m. Wood fragrant. Crown of young trees spire-shaped; crown of old trees broadly rounded. Branchlets often straight or slightly curved. Branchlets growing scalelike leaves nearly terete or 4-angled.
Leaves	Two types of leaves, as needlelike leaves and scalelike leaves. Needlelike leaves lanceolate, apex acuminate, decussate or in whorls of 3, loosely arranged. Shaped like needles. Scalelike leaves nearly lanceolate, apex slightly acuminate, decussate, closely appressed. Shaped like the scales of fish.
Strobilus	Often dioecious. Male cones yellow, ellipsoid, small. Female cones subglobose, usually glaucous when young, dark brown when mature. With 1 to 4 seed(s).
Seeds	Ovoid, slightly flattened, apex blunt, ridged, with few resin pits.
Pollinating	April in Hong Kong.
Seed maturing	October to November in Hong Kong.

A pair of <em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. grow outside of The Reptile House in Tuen Mun Park.

The left one. Crown spire-shaped.

The right one. Crown spire-shaped.

Trunk of <em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. Branching low. Branchlets often straight or slightly curved.

Bark of trunk dark grey, longitudinally fissured into strips.

Needlelike leaves lanceolate, apex acuminate, decussate or in whorls of 3, loosely arranged. Shaped like needles.

Scalelike leaves nearly lanceolate, apex slightly acuminate, decussate, closely appressed. Shaped like the scales of fish.

Male cones yellow, ellipsoid, small.

Female cones subglobose, usually glaucous when young.

<em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. ‘Kaizuca’ grow outside of Tuen Mun Town Hall.

Trunk of <em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. ‘Kaizuca’.

Bark of <em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. ‘Kaizuca’.

Scalelike leaves of <em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. ‘Kaizuca’.

Branches growing scalelike leaves of <em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. ‘Kaizuca’, which are twisted when growing upward.

A <em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. ‘Aurea’ which is shaped through pruning.

Scalelike leaves of <em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. ‘Aurea’ are initially golden yellow.

Close up of golden yellow scalelike leaves.

Needlelike leaves of <em>Juniperus chinensis</em> L. ‘Aurea’ are initially golden yellow also.

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Remarks

Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=9376

Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Juniperus chinensis Linnaeus
― Plants of the World Online : Juniperus chinensis L

Reference

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). (2018). A Photographic Guide to Common Urban Trees of Hong Kong. 3^rd edition. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-988-12021-3-0.
eFloras. (2008). Juniperus chinensis Linnaeus. Flora of China. [Online Edition]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 21^st July 2020, from: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=210000896
Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department & South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2007-2011). Juniperus chinensis L. 圓柏. Flora of Hong Kong. [Online Edition]. Retrieved 21^st July 2020, from: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/9376/9376_S_E.pdf
International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS). (2016). International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP). 9^th Edition. Scripta Horticulturae 18. ISHS, Leuven, Belgium. ISBN:978-94-6261-116-0.
Missouri Botanical Garden. (2020). Juniperus chinensis 'Kaizuka'. Plant Finder. Your Garden. Gardens & Gardening. Retrieved 28^th July 2020, from: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d856
School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University & Hong Kong Baptist University Library. (2007). Sabina chinensis (L.) Ant. Medicinal Plant Images Database. Retrieved 28^th July 2020, from: http://libproject.hkbu.edu.hk/was40/detail?lang=en&channelid=1288&searchword=herb_id=D00812
Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium. (2020). Juniperus chinensis L. 圓柏. Factsheet. Taxonomical Archive System. Wu Jieh Yee Charitable Foundation Native Plant Resources and Database in Hong Kong. Retrieved 21^st July 2020, from: https://syhuherbarium.sls.cuhk.edu.hk/collections/factsheet/juniperus-chinensis/
The Royal Horticultural Society. (2020). Juniperus chinensis 'Aurea'. Retrieved 28^th July 2020, from: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/95911/Juniperus-chinensis-Aurea/Details
The Royal Horticultural Society. (2020). Juniperus chinensis 'Kaizuka'. Retrieved 28^th July 2020, from: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/91774/Juniperus-chinensis-Kaizuka/Details
中國科學院仙湖植物園。（2017）。《深圳植物誌》（第1卷）。北京 : 中國林業出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5038-8951-6。
中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈圓柏Juniperus chinensis L.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年7月21日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Juniperus%20chinensis?t=z
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李先源。（2018）。《觀賞植物分類學》。北京 : 科學出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-03-055580-9。
陳虎彪、楊全。（2013）。《中草藥野外識別圖譜》。福建 : 福建科學技術出版社。2016年12月第四次重印。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5335-4323-5。
漁農自然護理署香港植物標本室、中國科學院華南植物園。（2015）。《香港植物誌》（第1卷）。香港 : 漁農自然護理署。國際標準書號 : 978-988-12021-9-2。