Juniperus thurifera

The Spanish juniper can be up to 20 m tall, although it does not normally exceed 8 m. Its bark is ash grey and it has a pyramidal form. The branches are somewhat flattened and rough to the touch, unlike the Phoenicean Juniper (Juniperus phoenicea L.). They are made up of bright green, scale-like leaves that are imbricated like the scales on la fish. However, newly emerged young leaves are similar to those of other junipers, and are shaped like small needles. Specimens tend to have male and female cones separated on the same plant. The fruits (actually false fruit), known as galbuli, are globose, 8-10 mm in diameter, and dark blue or purple when ripe. They are usually covered in a whitish, dusty-looking layer (bloom).