Taxonomy, ecology and distribution of Juniperus oxycedrus L. group in the Mediterranean Region using morphometric, phytochemical and bioclimatic approaches.

Abstract

The ecology, taxonomy and distribution of the Juniperus oxycedrus L. group of taxa are studied. From an ecological aspect, this work proposes a new ombroedaphoxeric index to explain the presence of populations of Juniperus in ombrotypes that are not the optimum for these taxa. The controversy among various authors on the taxonomy of the oxycedrus group with regard to J. oxycedrus subsp. badia and J. oxycedrus subsp. lagunae is clarified. The phytochemical differences in essential oils are addressed, and their similarities analysed; greater similarities are observed between oxycedrus and badia (H. Gay) Debeaux, and between navicularis Grand. and macrocarpa (Sm.) Ball. The phytochemical, molecular and distribution differences allow J. macrocarpa and J. navicularis to be maintained as species.