Practical
Plants

Juniperus monosperma

One-Seed Juniper

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Juniperus genus in the family Cupressaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
18 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Wind
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked. Soft, juicy and pulpy[11][13][2], but with a thin flesh[12]. It can be dried and ground into a powder and then be baked[12][7], or can be used as a seasoning in stews etc[4][9]. The fruits were only used when other foods were in short supply[9]. The cones are about 5 - 8mm in diameter and ripen in their first year[5]. Inner bark - raw or cooked[9]. It was chewed in times of food shortage for the little nourishment it supplied[9]. The gum is chewed as a delicacy[4][9]. No further details are given.

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Gum

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

One-seed juniper was commonly employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes, who used it to treat a variety of complaints[9]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. The leaves are febrifuge, laxative and pectoral[6]. An infusion is used in the treatment of stomach complaints, constipation, coughs and colds[6]. An infusion was also used by pregnant women prior to childbirth in order to relax the muscles[9]. A poultice of the heated twigs can be bound over a bruise or sprain in order to reduce the swelling[9]. An infusion of the staminate cones has been used as a stomach tonic and in the treatment of dysentery[9]. The chewed bark has been applied externally to help heal spider bites[9]. It is also highly prized as a dressing on burns[9]. The fruits are strongly diuretic[9]. A gum from the plant has been used as a temporary filling in a decayed tooth[9].

Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Birthing aid
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Odontalgic
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Thin strips of the fibrous bark are used for making sleeping mats etc[12][7]. It has also been used as a lining in shoes to absorb moisture and to keep the feet warmer[9]. When rubbed fine, the bark can be used to make children's clothing[9]. The bark is employed as a tinder and is also made into a slow match or can be shredded, bound into bundles and used as a torch to give light in the house[6][9]. The crushed bark was twisted into a rope, tied at intervals with yucca (Yucca species), and wrapped into a coil. The free end was set on fire and kept smouldering by blowing on it at intervals. Fire could be carried in this fashion for several hours[9]. The dried seeds have been used as beads or as the 'rattle' in rattles[6][9]. A green dye is obtained from the bark and berries[8][9]. A yellow dye is obtained from the whole plant[9]. Ashes from the whole plant have been used as a mordant to fix the colour of dyes[9]. Wood - moderately hard, somewhat heavy, slightly fragrant. When seasoned properly it is very durable and is used mainly for fencing and fuel[12][7][8]. As a fuel it burns steadily and evenly[9].

Product or use
Beads
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Lighting
Product or use
Mordant
Product or use
Tinder
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - along the Rocky Mountains from Wyoming to Mexico.
Habitat
Dry rocky or sandy soils, 1000 - 2300 metres[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed requires a period of cold stratification. The seed has a hard seedcoat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 - 3 months duration[10][11]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[3]. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some might germinate in the following spring, though most will take another year. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (when the embryo has fully formed but before the seedcoat has hardened). The seedlings can be potted up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in pots until large enough, then plant out in early summer. When stored dry, the seed can remain viable for several years[1]. Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/October in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn[1][10]. Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months[10].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in dry soils. Succeeds in most soils, including chalk, if they are well drained[1][3][5], preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[3]. Trees are fairly fast growing for a Juniper, and are also long-lived in their native habitats[7]. They grow better in dry areas with hot summers, western Britain is generally to cool and wet for this species to thrive[5]. Plants are resistant to honey fungus[14]. This species is closely related to J. occidentalis[3]. The seed matures in 1 year[5]. Some fruit is produced most years, but heavy crops only occur every 2 - 3 years[8]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Whiting. A. F. Ethnobotany of the Hopi North Arizona Society of Science and Art 1939-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13↩14↩15↩16↩17↩18↩19↩20↩21↩22

  10. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X

    ↩1↩2

  12. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  13. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩

  14. RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00

    ↩

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