Juniperus navicularis
Juniperus navicularis Gand.
Juniperus navicularis, known as the Portuguese prickly juniper, is a species native to the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. It is part of the Cupressaceae family and was first described in 1910 by Gand. While it has been classified as a subspecies of Juniperus oxycedrus, genetic research indicates that the two are not closely related.
Description
Juniperus navicularis is a coniferous shrub or small tree found only in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. It belongs to the genus Juniperus within the cypress family, Cupressaceae. The species was formally described in 1910 by the botanist Gand. Although it has occasionally been considered a subspecies of Juniperus oxycedrus, molecular phylogenetic studies have revealed that the two species are not closely related, highlighting the distinct evolutionary lineage of J. navicularis.
Synonyms
Juniperus oxycedrus var. transtagnaJuniperus oxycedrus subsp. transtagna