''Juniperus seravschanica'' is a species of

juniper Junipers are coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Juniperus'' ( ) of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on the taxonomy, between 50 and 67 species of junipers are widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere as far south ...

. Common names include Pashtun juniper ( ''ōbəx̌ta'', " specieswhich sucks water"; Pashto: پښتني صنوبر). It ranges from southernmost Kazakhstan through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, eastern Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, to northern and eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, and Kashmir. Outlying populations are found in the mountains of southeastern Iran – near Kuhbanan, Rabor, and on Kuh-e Khabr in the

Hazaran Hazaran (Hazar, Hezar), is a massif of the Central Iranian Plateau, and an eastern outlier of the Zagros Mountains. Hazaran is located in Kerman Province, in southeast Iran. With an elevation of 4,500 metres, it is the highest peak in Kerman Pro ...

range – and the Hajar Mountains of

Oman Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia and the Middle East. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Oman’s coastline ...

."Juniperus seravschanica". ''Plants of the World Online''. Accessed 5 December 2020

/ref>Adams, R.P., Al-Farsi, A. & Schwarzbach, A.E. (2014). Confirmation of the southern-most population of Juniperus seravschanica in Oman by DNA sequencing of nrDNA and four cpDNA regions Phytologia 96: 218-224. ''Juniperus seravschanica'' is sometimes classified as a subspecies of '' Juniperus polycarpos, J. polycarpos'' or '' J. excelsa''.

Distribution

''Juniperus seravschanica'' occurs in the higher-elevation forests in

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...

Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir Mountains, Pamir mountain ranges. Bishkek is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Kyrgyzstan, largest city. Kyrgyz ...

Tajikistan Tajikistan, officially the Republic of Tajikistan, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Dushanbe is the capital city, capital and most populous city. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan to the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border, south, Uzbekistan to ...

and

Uzbekistan , image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg , image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg , symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem , national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...

, which the

World Wildlife Fund The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a Swiss-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was formerly named the ...

calls the Gissaro-Alai open woodlands. In this general region '' Juniperus turkestanica'', ''J. semiglobosa'',

maple ''Acer'' is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples. The genus is placed in the soapberry family Sapindaceae.Stevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 9, June 2008 nd more or less continuously updated si ...

s (''Acer'' spp.),

almond The almond (''Prunus amygdalus'', Synonym (taxonomy)#Botany, syn. ''Prunus dulcis'') is a species of tree from the genus ''Prunus''. Along with the peach, it is classified in the subgenus ''Amygdalus'', distinguished from the other subgenera ...

s (''Prunus amygdalus''), and roses (''Rosa'' spp.) also occur (although not necessarily in the same

habitat In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...

s). In eastern

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

it also occurs in upper-montane woodlands of ''J. seravschanica'' which occur at elevations between , in the territory the WWF has delineated as East Afghan montane conifer forests, and in the open xeric woodlands at elevations of , further south in the Baluchistan xeric woodlands of southern Afghanistan and

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

Balochistan Province Balochistan (; ; , ) is a province of Pakistan. Located in the southwestern region of the country, Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by land area but is the least populated one. It is bordered by the Pakistani provinces of Khybe ...

. A substantial but dwindling forest of ''J. seravschanica'' is found in Ziarat District and Kalat District of Pakistan, as well as Zarghun Ghar Zarghoon Mountains near

Quetta Quetta is the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. It is the ninth largest city in Pakistan, with an estimated population of over 1.6 million in 2024. It is situated in the south-west of the country, lying in a ...

and Harboi including some are found in Koh-i-Takatu and Koh-i-Murdaar adjacent to Quetta in northern and central Balochistan, and surrounding parts of southeastern

. The largest compact block is the Ziarat Juniper Forest in

Ziarat Ziarat (Urdu and ) is a city in the Ziarat District of the Balochistan (Pakistan), Balochistan province in Pakistan. It lies away from Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. Previously, it was part of Sibi district. It was announced as ...

and surroundings on an approximate range of about . The southernmost population of ''J. seravschanica'' is in the Hajar Mountains of

, where the junipers grow in the highest portions of the central range. The junipers form open woodlands at elevations of , sometimes co-dominant with '' Olea europaea''.

Conservation

Overgrazing Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, game reserves, or nature ...

by camels, goats and feral donkeys has impeded regeneration of woodlands at altitudes below 2,400 m in Oman.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q38224022, from2=Q6313677 seravschanica Flora of Afghanistan Flora of Iran Flora of Kazakhstan Flora of Kyrgyzstan Flora of Oman Flora of Pakistan Flora of Tajikistan Flora of Turkmenistan Flora of Uzbekistan Plants described in 1932 Flora of the Hajar Mountains