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Juniperus osteosperma

Desert Juniper

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
12 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[8][13][16]. A thin flesh, it is sweet but strongly flavoured of resin and has a mealy texture[13][14][6]. Used as a flavouring in stews[5][7]. The fruit can be eaten fresh or it can be dried and ground into a powder then baked into cakes[9][13][3]. The cones are about 6 - 18mm in diameter, they take 2 years to mature[4].

Plant part
Fruit

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.

Desert juniper was widely employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints, especially those connected to the bladder and kidneys and to the skin[7]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. The leaves are antiseptic, blood tonic and laxative[5][7]. A decoction is used in the treatment of constipation[5]. A poultice of the leaves has been applied to the jaw to treat toothaches and sore and swollen gums[7]. A decoction of the young twigs has been used in the treatment of stomach aches, kidney complaints, haemorrhages, coughs and colds[7]. Fumes from the burning twigs have been inhaled in the treatment of headaches and colds[7]. The branches have been used in a sweat bath to treat rheumatism[7]. A strong decoction has been used as an antiseptic wash on sores[7]. A poultice of the mashed twigs has been used as a dressing on burns and swellings[7]. The seeds are analgesic[7]. They have been eaten in the treatment of headaches[7]. The fruits are analgesic, blood tonic and diuretic[7]. A decoction has been used to relieve the pain of menstrual cramps, to induce urination and to treat kidney complaints, fevers, coughs and colds[7]. Externally, a decoction has been used as a poultice on rheumatic joints[7].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Blood tonic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Kidney
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Odontalgic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Salve

Material uses

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

A wax on the fruit is obtained by simmering the fruit in hot water and skimming off the wax as it rises to the surface. The wax can be used to make aromatic candles[14]. The bark is employed as a tinder and is also made into a slow match[5][7]. 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[7]. The bark has been used as a thatching on the roofs of buildings[7]. The dried seeds have been used as beads or as the 'rattle' in rattles[5]. An infusion of the plant has been used as a hair wash[7]. The plant has been burnt as an incense and fumigant in the home[7]. Wood - soft, close-grained, slightly fragrant[13]. It is used occasionally for fuel, fencing etc[13][6].

Product or use
Beads
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Hair care
Product or use
Incense
Product or use
Thatching
Product or use
Tinder
Product or use
Wax
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California to New Mexico and Wyoming.
Habitat
Thin, dry rocky or gravelly soils[6] on mountain slopes and high plains in desert regions between the Rocky mountains and the Sierra Nevada[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
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[11][12]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[2]. 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][11]. Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months[11].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[1][2]. Thrives in calcareous soils[1]. A drought tolerant plant once established, succeeding in hot dry positions[4]. A slow-growing but long-lived tree, specimens several centuries old have been recorded[6]. It grows better in dry areas with hot summers, western Britain is generally to cool and wet for this species to thrive[4]. Good crops of fruit are produced in alternate years in the wild[6]. Closely related to J. californica[1][13]. This species is resistant to honey fungus[15]. The seed takes 2 years to mature[4]. Plants are usually dioecious, though occasional trees with both male and female flowers are sometimes found[6]. Male and female plants must usually 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↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. 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↩5↩6

  7. 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

  8. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  9. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  10. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

  13. 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↩5↩6

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  16. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩

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