Morphological and ecological comparison of populations of Juniperus turbinata Guss. and J. phoenicea L. from the Mediterranean region

The aim of the present study was the biometrical comparison and ecological analysis of six populations of Juniperus phoenicea complex from the western part of the species’ geographic range, each represented by about 30 individuals. This is the first study to include the Sicilian population of J. turbinata sensu stricto. Seven features of the cones and seeds, two of the shoots and leaves and eight ratios were used to describe the individuals and populations which were then compared using statistical methods. Four of the analysed populations (representatives of J. turbinata s.s.) are closely related to each other. The two other populations representing J. phoenicea s.s. appear to be much more variable but on the whole the two taxa treated at a species level seem to be quite distinct from each other. It was also noted that there are two quite different ecologies of these species: the first is typical of the thermomediterranean belt which is only found at high altitudes in the mountains of north Africa, and the second circumscribed to the meso- or supramediterranean belt of western Spain, France and northwestern Italy. In many parts of its coastal distribution, Juniperus turbinata is endangered due to the construction of summer resorts and therefore actions to protect this species are needed.