Juniperus jarkendensis Komarov; J. sabina Linnaeus var. jarkendensis (Komarov) Silba; Sabina vulgaris Antoine var. jarkendensis (Komarov) C. Y. Yang.

Trees, occasionally shrubs, dioecious, rarely monoecious; branchlets loosely arranged, spreading, straight, stout, terete, 1-2 mm in diam. Leaves both scalelike and needlelike; needlelike leaves usually present on young plants, rarely present on adult plants, decussate or in whorls of 3, directed forward, 3-7 mm, concave adaxially, convex abaxially; scalelike leaves decussate, closely appressed, ± rhombic-ovate, 1-2.5 mm, abaxial gland near center. Pollen cones ± ellipsoid, 3-5 mm; microsporophylls 8-10, each with 3 or 4 pollen sacs. Seed cones light brown to bluish black when ripe, glaucous, ± obovoid-globose or nearly triangular and widest near apex, 2- or 3-seeded. Seeds 3-6 × 2-3.5 mm, angular ovoid, apices often diverging.

Forest borders; 2500-3300 m. SW Xinjiang, W Xizang [Afghanistan, N India, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan]