JBCLM | 2010-2025

The Spanish juniper (Juniperus thurifera) is a conifer adapted to strongly continental climates, with cold winters and hot, dry summers. This Tertiary relict naturally grows in various ecosystems in Castilla-La Mancha, mainly in the eastern provinces. In Campo de Montiel (Ciudad Real and Albacete), climatic and soil conditions favor open Spanish juniper habitats, coexisting with holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota). Historically, over forty dehesas in this territory belonged to the Order of Santiago and were leased to transhumant flocks of the Mesta. During and after the Reconquista (from the 13th century), scrublands and forests were degraded and reduced due to overexploitation, leaving some areas better preserved as communal dehesas.

This section, next to the recreated Ruidera terraces, features species typical of open juniper–holm oak dehesas of Campo de Montiel, such as narrow-leaved phillyrea (Phillyrea angustifolia), scorpion broom (Genista scorpius), and retama (Retama sphaerocarpa).