AusBonsai

nah. u c that white line in the middle. needle juniper doesn't have that. the needles for a needle juni and a communis is pretty similar

that white line in the middle indicate that it's a communis.

here's a pic from google.
http://www.herbalfire.com/images/Juniperus-communis.jpg

Having looked closer at your picture and wikipedia, I have to agree there is a distinctive white line on the leaves. So communis it is then. Do I have a seconder?

species69 wrote: Having looked closer at your picture and wikipedia, I have to agree there is a distinctive white line on the leaves. So communis it is then. Do I have a seconder?

2nd !!!

The motion is seconded, can we have a show of hands for the ayes? All those in favour say aye!

aye!! ?? lol

Sorry to throw a spanner in the works but i confident that it is a Shores Juniper ( Juniperus Confirta).
Ill post a pic if need be.

Regards
Chris

I'd think it's most likely conferta, with the size of the needles and the white line. Can be a good bonsai species, but not common.

Gavin

unless it looks like this -
from which the pic that was posted of the unsure juniper, its not shore juniper..

I am confused now. The shore juniper has several variations so it could be one of these. I don't think it's a shore juniper since is has never shown any prostrate characteristics and never tried to sag as a ground cover would. My gut feel is it's a communis.

Still, I have to congratulate you all on such a healthy debate.

Just checked the thread again, with that closer shot I don't think it is a needle juniper anymore. Mine doesn't have a streak band in the middle, just a silver streak.
I'll go grab a closeup of a needle junipers foliage, for comparison.

Needle juniper.

Well this one has a white line down the middle.

The previous owner of this plant for 15 years knew it as a Needle Juniper. I would say he has above average knowledge of this species.


Dumper- Do Needle junipers not have the white strip? If so I am confused.

I can see the differences. The leaf on mine seems shorter or wider than the needle juniper and the green edges on the leaves are more prominent on mine. So, not conclusive proof but pretty convincing that it is most likely communis

species69 wrote:I can see the differences. The leaf on mine seems shorter or wider than the needle juniper and the green edges on the leaves are more prominent on mine. So, not conclusive proof but pretty convincing that it is most likely communis

agreed on communis, it looks more like that than either juniperus ridgida or juniperus conferta, these two have similar traits but ae different aswell, yours looks like a "juvenielle" type juniper and also a prostrate form which is indicative of communis or even procumbens.

jamie

species69 wrote:I can see the differences. The leaf on mine seems shorter or wider than the needle juniper and the green edges on the leaves are more prominent on mine. So, not conclusive proof but pretty convincing that it is most likely communis

Yeah def not Rigida Needle juniper. Here's a crude macro shot of mine.... $1500 of camera and I still need to old skool flip a 50mm lens to get this.

Where mine has a white line, it is actually indented into the needle surface, like a groove of white. Also like you said, my needles look much slender and not flat like yours...


This has been fun, hasn't it!! I get excited easily.

Edit- managed to blow it up a bit... Almost Micro...

I'll post the pine next. Now that will be fun.