Old gnarled weathered juniper tree in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, USA

Juniper isn’t just the key ingredient in a refreshing gin and tonic, but also the backbone of an important Wild West biome. Pinyon-juniper woodlands cover much of the mountain states’ middle elevations between 1,372 and 2,286 metres, acting as a buffer between scrubby plains below and tall pines above. Often, pinyons and junipers are virtually the only plant life in these arid areas. Some specimens, like this Utah juniper in Capitol Reef National Park, attain impressive sizes (not to mention interesting shapes) despite the dry, low-nutrient soil.