Juniperus communis - © Barry Stewart
Juniperus communis Juniper
Beryw
L.
Juniper is one of the 3 gymnosperm species that are native in the British Flora and is the only one that is native in West Glamorgan. It occurs as a prostrate, ground-hugging shrub on the limestone cliffs of South Gower between Langland and Rhossili and is locally frequent between Paviland and Mewslade. Juniper has decreased greatly in Britain during the last 200 years and the native, relict population on the Gower peninsula is of great significance. It has probably survived there since the end of the last ice age when it was part of a post glacial park tundra flora. Populations are very susceptible to cliff fires. Several of the Gower plants appear to be of great age.
The south Gower Junipers support a population of the Nationally Scarce Chestnut-colured Carpet Thera cognata, a southern outlier of what is principally a northern species of moth. Unlike the related Juniper Pug Eupithecia pusillata, which uses planted ornamental Junipers as-well-as native plants, the Chestnut-coloured Carpet appears to be confined to natural cliff habitats in our area.
