Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum)

Colorado is home to the rocky mountain juniper, which can be found in the Montane ecosystem and at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 9,000 feet. It is typically found on rocky ridges and bluffs. Its trunk has a single stem and can grow to be 10 meters tall (see the following picture).
Its leaves are needle-like. Further, its mature seed cones are a grayish-green or blue and are 4.0 to 6.0 mm in diameter. Each rocky mountain juniper produces either male or female seed cones but not both (i.e., dioecious). See the following picture to get a closer look.
In addition, Colorado is home to the common juniper, Utah juniper, and one-seeded juniper. The common juniper can be found at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 feet, grow to be 1 meter tall, and is more horizontal than vertical. The Utah juniper is similar to the Colorado Juniper but can only be found in western Colorado at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 9,000 feet. Its mature seed cones are purple or reddish brown with a diameter of 7.0 to 18.00 meters and its branches start a few feet above ground. The one-seeded juniper can be found at elevations of 4,000 to 8,000 feet, has purple to blueish-black mature seed cones of 4.0 to 8.0 mm in diameter, can grow to be 5 meters tall, begins branching at the ground, and lives on dry plains or rocky slopes.

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