Juniperus occidentalis
Western Juniper

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - raw or cooked^[1]^[2]^[3]. A thin dry flesh^[4] with a resinous flavour^[5]^[4]. The fruit is sweet and nutritious^[5], it can also be dried or ground into a powder and mixed with cereal flours to be made into a bread^[6].The cones are about 10mm in diameter, they take 2 years to mature^[7].

Fruit

Unknown use

Material uses

The bark is employed as a tinder and is also made into a slow match^[8]^[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 bark can be wound around a stick and used as a torch to provide light and carry fire to a new campsite^[9].

The bark can be rubbed between the hands until it is soft and the fibres can then be woven into clothing^[9]. The bark can also be rolled into rope, coiled and then sown to form sandal shoes^[9]. The root fibre is used to make twined baskets^[9]. The branches have been burnt as an incense and fumigant in the home^[9]. The dried seeds have been used as beads or as the 'rattle' in rattles^[8].

Wood - very close-grained, light, soft, exceedingly durable. It is easily worked and can be exquisitely finished. Because of its small size, however, it is mainly used for fencing, fuel^[1]^[2]^[4]^[10].

Unknown part

Basketry

Beads

Fibre

Fuel

Incense

Lighting

Tinder

Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Western juniper was quite widely employed as a medicinal herb by a number of native North American tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints, especially those related to the kidneys and the skin^[9]. It is rarely, if at all, used in modern herbalism.

The leaves are blood tonic and laxative^[8]. A decoction is used in the treatment of constipation, coughs and colds^[8]. An infusion of the leaves has been taken by pregnant women prior to giving birth in order to relax the muscles^[9]. A poultice of the pounded moistened leaves has been applied to the jaw to treat swollen and sore gums and toothaches^[9]. The berries are analgesic, blood tonic and diuretic^[9]. A decoction is used to relieve the pain of menstrual cramps and to induce urination^[9]. Externally, the decoction is used as a poultice on rheumatic joints^[9]. The young twigs are antiseptic, blood tonic and febrifuge^[9]. A decoction is used in the treatment of kidney problems, fevers, stomach aches, smallpox, influenza and haemorrhages^[9]. The branches have been used in a sweat bath to ease rheumatism^[9]. A poultice of the twigs has been used as a dressing on burns and as a drawing agent on boils or splinters^[9]. A decoction has been used as an antiseptic wash on sores^[9].

The leaves or young twigs have been burnt and the smoke inhaled to ease the pain of headaches^[9].

Unknown part

Analgesic

Antiseptic

Birthing aid

Blood tonic

Diuretic

Febrifuge

Laxative

Odontalgic

Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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^[13]. 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^[14].

Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/October in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn^[14]^[11].

Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months^[11].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Juniperus occidentalis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils, including chalk, so long as they are well drained^[14]^[13], preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil^[13]. Established plants are drought tolerant, succeeding in hot dry positions^[7].

Plants are slow-growing, though they can live for 3000 years in the wild^[7]^[10]. They are much shorter-lived in cultivation^[7], growing better in dry areas with hot summers^[7]. Western Britain is generally to cool and wet for this species to thrive^[7]. Plants are usually monoecious but are sometimes dioecious. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed and fruit is required. The fruit takes two summers to ripen^[10].

Plants are resistant to honey fungus^[15].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Juniperus occidentalis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Juniperus occidentalis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1^1.2^1.3 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
? ^3.0^3.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3^4.4 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
? ^6.0^6.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3^7.4^7.5^7.6^7.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4^8.5 Whiting. A. F. Ethnobotany of the Hopi North Arizona Society of Science and Art (1939-00-00)
? ^9.00^9.01^9.02^9.03^9.04^9.05^9.06^9.07^9.08^9.09^9.10^9.11^9.12^9.13^9.14^9.15^9.16^9.17^9.18^9.19^9.20 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
? ^10.0^10.1^10.2^10.3 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
? ^11.0^11.1^11.2 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
? Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm ISBN 0-7470-2801-X (1987-00-00)
? ^13.0^13.1^13.2^13.3 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
? ^14.0^14.1^14.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
? RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society (1987-00-00)
? Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press (1955-00-00)

"image:Juniperus occidentalis 8221.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

[PFAFimport-46-1] ? ^1.0^1.1^1.2^1.3 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)

[PFAFimport-61-2] ? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)

[PFAFimport-105-3] ? ^3.0^3.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)

[PFAFimport-82-4] ? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3^4.4 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)

[PFAFimport-2-5] ? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)

[PFAFimport-161-6] ? ^6.0^6.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()

[PFAFimport-200-7] ? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3^7.4^7.5^7.6^7.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

[PFAFimport-216-8] ? ^8.0^8.1^8.2^8.3^8.4^8.5 Whiting. A. F. Ethnobotany of the Hopi North Arizona Society of Science and Art (1939-00-00)

[PFAFimport-257-9] ? ^9.00^9.01^9.02^9.03^9.04^9.05^9.06^9.07^9.08^9.09^9.10^9.11^9.12^9.13^9.14^9.15^9.16^9.17^9.18^9.19^9.20 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)

[PFAFimport-229-10] ? ^10.0^10.1^10.2^10.3 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)

[PFAFimport-78-11] ? ^11.0^11.1^11.2 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)

[PFAFimport-81-12] ? Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm ISBN 0-7470-2801-X (1987-00-00)

[PFAFimport-11-13] ? ^13.0^13.1^13.2^13.3 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)

[PFAFimport-1-14] ? ^14.0^14.1^14.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

[PFAFimport-88-15] ? RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society (1987-00-00)

[PFAFimport-60-16] ? Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press (1955-00-00)

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Article is incomplete	Yes +
Article requires citations	No +
Article requires cleanup	Yes +
Belongs to family	Cupressaceae +
Belongs to genus	Juniperus +
Has common name	Western Juniper +
Has drought tolerance	Tolerant +
Has edible part	Fruit +
Has edible use	Unknown use +
Has environmental tolerance	High wind + and Drought +
Has fertility type	Self sterile + and Wind +
Has flowers of type	Monoecious +
Has growth rate	Slow +
Has hardiness zone	5 +
Has image	Juniperus occidentalis 8221.jpg +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has material part	Unknown part +
Has material use	Basketry +, Beads +, Fibre +, Fuel +, Incense +, Lighting +, Tinder + and Wood +
Has mature height	18 +
Has medicinal part	Unknown part +
Has medicinal use	Analgesic +, Antiseptic +, Birthing aid +, Blood tonic +, Diuretic +, Febrifuge +, Laxative +, Odontalgic + and Poultice +
Has primary image	Juniperus occidentalis 8221.jpg +
Has search name	juniperus occidentalis + and x +
Has shade tolerance	No shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preference	Clay +
Has soil teloamyture preference	Loamy +
Has soil tesandyture preference	Sandy +
Has soil water retention preference	Well drained +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomy name	Juniperus occidentalis +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Inhabits ecosystem niche	Canopy +
Is deciduous or evergreen	Evergreen +
Is herbaceous or woody	Woody +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	No +
Tolerates wind	Yes +
Uses mature size measurement unit	Meters +

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit

Material uses

Unknown part

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Unknown part

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Forage

Shelter

Propagation

Cultivation

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

Polycultures & Guilds

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

Subspecies

Full Data

References

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