B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 29. 1998 (Budapest, 1999)

Debreczy, Zsolt; Rácz, István: The prostrate form of the Phoenician juniper: Juniperus phoenicea L. f. prostrata, f. nov.

Studia bot. hung. 29, pp. 87-94, 1998 (1999) THE PROSTRATE FORM OF THE PHOENICIAN JUNIPER: JUNIPERUS PHOENICEA L. F. PROSTRATA, F. NOV. Zs. DEBRECZY

1 and I. RÁcz

2 1 International Dendrological Research Institute P. O. Box 812910, Wellesley, MA 02482, USA 'Dept. Botany, Hungarian Natural History Museum H-1476 Budapest, Pf. 222, Hungary A prostrate, creeping, freely rooting form of the Phoenician juniper, a species known for its rather limited variability, was found in SW Portugal. The form has a restricted distribution, and differs from the more common wind shaped forms (individuals) of the species by its more prostrate habit and its capability of freely sending adventitious roots to further establish itself in this summer-dry region. It may be valuable in soil-conservation projects and its ornamental merit may also be explored. Key words: new form, conifers, Cupressaceae, Juniperus, prostrate forms, Portugal, Mediterranean region JUNIPERUS PHOENICEA L. F. PROSTRATA, F. NOV. A tipo differt: frutex humilis, repens, altitudine 0,2—0,4(-0,S) m surculis Ulis, typi similibus, tenuibus squamulis parvis (1 mm), galbulis 8 mm diametro, globosis, rufo-brimneis. Typus: SW Portugal, near Praja Grande (ca 15 km W of Sintra), near ocean cliffs, about 40 m above sea level. Oct. 13, 1995. D.A.P. collections #46163, collectors: Zs. Debreczy, Gy. Biró, I. Rácz and J. Németh (BP and the International Dendrological Research Institute, Wellesley, Massachusetts), with Chris and Stephanie Tebbutt (Boonville, California). Holotypus: BP, Isotypi: LISC, LISI, COL The prostrate form differs from the species by its low creeping growth (with a height of 0.2-0.4 or up to 0.8 m), its prostrate leaders, and its capability of sending secondary (adventitious) roots (Fig. 4) from branches contacting the soil, and further supporting the creeping character of the plant. The branches are often twisted, curved with various sized knots that have clusters of branchlets. The one year old branchlets (annotini) are typically very thin (0.7 to 1 mm), less often up to 2 mm across. Although the scale-leaves are usually small (1 mm) in this form, this as well as other characteristics are well within the range of the regular variability of the species. The creeping form seems to be rare, and so far has only been observed in the type locality (Fig. 1).