Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-19

Probably no other group of the pine
 family is so difficult of Identification
 as the species of Juniperus. The dis
 tinguishing characteristics of those
 long known are even now so imper-
 fectly understood, except by a few
 specialists. that forms of the different
 species occurring in the same region
 are constantly confused With a few
 exceptions, they are exceedingly diff
 ncuit trees to distinguish in all stages
 of their growth, even with the fullest
 assortment of towering, fruiting and
 foliage specimens, such as few her
 baria possess Much very critical
 study is needed also of trees as they
 grow in their native habitat where,
 Frequently, they show specific charac-
 ters which may well be added to what
 must, at best, often be a meager de-
 scriptive picture. As good evidence
 Of the difficulties these trees present,
 one has only to point to the fact that
 such really distinct species as Juni-
 perus virginiana, of northeastern
 United States, and J. barbadensis, of
 the south Atlantic and Gulf region.
 should have remained so long con-
 founded with each other; or that the
 equally distinct, but still little known,
 Juniperus scopulorum should have
 been so long supposed to be only a Rocky mountain and far-western form Of the eastern Virginia red cedar. It is probable that very much is yet to
 be learned about our junipers, a criti- cal field study of which must yield still other new species.
 One mostimportant work which members of the forest service are do- ing now in the national forests. and aside from their other economic for est work, is the careful scrutiny of trees, wherever found, for the purpose of determining their limits of range. The present organized body of men in charge of and conducting investiga- tions upon these forest lands consti- tute an exceptional corps of trained workers, through whose observations very much new information has al ready been added to our knowledge of 1 North American trees. It is only the combined efforts of inves- tigators, each working carefully over | his portion of the territory, that we can ever hope to know all of the trees we have and exactly where their linn its of range are.
 Mir. w. R. Mattoon, assistant forest | Inspector in the forest service, has re- gently collected notes, photographs. and specimens which enable the writer to distinguish a remarkably unique species of juniper, for which | l propose the name Juniperus mega locarpa; the specific part of the name refers to the strikingly large fruit this tree bears. An appropriate common name would seem to be, Big-fruit JunI- per. So far as is known, the tree has no field name. not being distinguished from other junipers or "cedars" of it's range.
 At present this species, which was first seen by Mir. Mattoon. September 22. 1906, is known to occur fin only one locality. This is approximately In section II or IA, township nine south. range 20 west, of the Gila Ma tional Forest. \. NJ The location is between the towns of Alma and Frisco. and about three miles above the San Francisco river. Twen- ty to 30 trees form an orchard-like stand on an alluvial sandy terrace a dozen feet above the stream. while below the point. stretching for pos sibly a mile. occur scattered single trees and small groups in similar sit nations. or at the bottom of the dry. rocky canyon slope. which bears a scanty growth of pinon pine. alligator Juniper. one-seed juniper. and scrub ,ak. The elevation of the stream bed. hear which the trees occur. is about '.4O0 feet. and the tree ranges within l50 feet above the stream. Forest Ranger William H. Goddard reports laying seen a juniper. which may ,roye to be Juniperus megaIocarpa. on l small tributary of San Francisco fyer. about six miles west Of Pleas Inton. some % miles from the above ocality. in New Mexico and near the Arircna line.
 Junlperus megalOcarpa is a short tree. % t0 50 feet high md two to four feet in diameter. with ! broad. oval. rounded. compact crown ! 1 f short. stout branches. The branch ! cts are short. very dense. and i lOthed with pale. yeliowfsh-ereen | olisEe-sometimes bronze-Ereen or. n young trees. often with a whIrfsh gisucousl tinge- The leaves are in hrees. acute. closely pressed upon the ranenlets. mostly vIth q minute [