Definition

1. Noun:
   • A procumbent variety of the common juniper: A low-growing, creeping form of the juniper plant (Juniperus communis).
   • A variety of club moss: A common name for certain species of low-growing, evergreen plants in the Lycopodiaceae family, resembling cedar foliage.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The ground cedar formed a dense, green mat over the rocky soil.
  • We identified several patches of ground cedar in the pine forest.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical Context: The term "ground cedar" is used in horticulture and botany to describe specific prostrate, conifer-like plants. It is not a true cedar.
  • The ground cedar, despite its name, is not related to true cedars (Cedrus).

Variants and Related Words

• Running pine (n): Another common name for similar species of club moss.
• Creeping juniper (n): A name for low-growing juniper varieties, which may be synonymous in some contexts.

Synonyms

• Clubmoss: A general term for plants in the family Lycopodiaceae.
• Trailing juniper: Describes the growth habit of the procumbent juniper variety.

Notes on Meaning

• The term has two distinct botanical meanings: one referring to a type of juniper and another to a type of club moss. The intended meaning is usually clear from the context (e.g., habitat, plant structure).

Noun

1. a procumbent variety of the common juniper
2. a variety of club moss