刺柏

Shrubs or trees to 15 m tall; bark brown; crown usually pyramidal or cylindric; branches spreading or ascending; branchlets pendulous, 3-angled. Leaves in whorls of 3, linear-lanceolate or linear-needlelike, 1.2-2 cm × 1.2-2 mm, slightly concave adaxially, with 2 white, broad stomatal bands separated by a narrow, green midvein, green and obtusely keeled abaxially, base jointed, not decurrent, apex sharply pointed. Pollen cones axillary, globose or ellipsoid, 4-6 mm; microsporophylls 9-12, in whorls of 3, each with 4 or more pollen sacs. Seed cones axillary, light reddish brown when ripe, glaucous or not, subglobose or broadly ovoid, 6-9 × 6-8 mm, with 6 fused scales in 2 alternating whorls, often 3-seeded, with a single seed on each scale of apical whorl. Seeds ovoid-triangular, 4-5 × 3-3.5 mm, 3- or 4-ridged, base with 3 or 4 resin pits, apex pointed.

S Anhui, W Fujian, E Gansu, Guizhou, W Hubei, S Hunan, S Jiangsu, Jiangxi, NE Qinghai, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, S Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang

* Forests; 200-3400 m.

Juniperus chekiangensis Nakai; J. formosana var. concolor Hayata; J. formosana f. tenella Handel-Mazzetti; J. mairei Lemee & H. Léveillé.