Juniper

Common Juniper (Juniperus communis)

2007 September 7

2007 September 7

2008 April 12

2008 April 16
Interior Douglas Fir surrounded by Common Juniper

Some Interior First Nations people ate the cones (berries) and some did not. Most commonly it was used when there was sickness, to cleanse, deodorize and fumigate. To release their pungent odor, the boughs would be burned or boiled. Boiled branches and cones were brewed into a tea that was drunk if one had a cold, heart or kidney troubles. Juniper is a diuretic. The cones of some species are used in making gin, giving gin its distinctive flavour. The cones are also used in cooking ... especially when cooking wild game ... but because of their strong flavour, are used sparingly. I have some dried juniper berries in my spice cupboard but I can't say as I've ever used them.

Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum)

2008 April 16

2008 April 16

2008 April 16

2008 April 16

Both first year and second year cones can appear on the same tree.

2008 April 16
Rocky Mountain Juniper with Common Juniper in the background.

2008 April 16

Unlike Common Juniper, these can grow up to 10 m tall. They have knotty, twisted trunks of fine grained, extremely tough wood. From the reddish coloured wood, First Nations people made bows, clubs and spoons. The berries (cones) can be eaten fresh, in small quantities. The fleshy covering of the cones must be dissolved before the seed can germinate. Nature's way of dissolving this coating was to have it pass through the digestive tract of whatever bird or animal ate it. Its uses are very similar to Common Juniper.