Photographs: Co. Clare and Co. Limerick

Juniper Juniperus communis subsp. communis Aiteal Family: Cupressaceae Flowering May-June. Evergreen shrub. Native. Small yellow flowers, the male and female flowers on separate plants (diocoecious). Small, berry-like female cones are bluish-black when ripe. The whorls of needle-like, grey-green leaves have sharply pointed tips. Erect or prostrate growth, prickly branches with flaking red-brown bark Grows on acidic or basic soils but mainly found on limestone rocks. Juniperus communis subsp. nana is prostrate with wider, bluntly pointed leaves and usually found on acidic soil and rocks.

Juniper, Juniperus communis subsp. communis, Aitea