THE JUNIPERS - Genus JUNIPERUS, Linn. Evergreen trees or shrubs with pungent sap, thin, ragged bark, and short, much-divided ascending branches. Leaves usually of two kinds, linear, spiny, free, in whorls of 3 at each joint, or scale-like, blunt, in pairs, 2-ranked, opposite, and closely appressed to twigs. Flowers in small, inconspicuous aments, dicecious or rarely moncecious. Fruit berry-like, by coalescence of fleshy scales; seeds I to 6, wingless, bony. Wood soft, close grained, durable.
KeY TO SPECIES A. Leaves free, 3 in a whorl, awl shaped, spiny; flowers axillary; berry bright blue with pale bloom; seeds 3.
(J. communis) DWARF JUNIPER AA. Leaves appressed to twig, in threes or opposite, scale-like, minute; flowers terminal; berry brown or dark blue; seeds I to 12.
B. Berry large, brownish red, with dry, sweet flesh. C. Seeds few or solitary.
D. Fruit oblong, I to 2-seeded; leaves in threes; twigs stout. (J. Californica) CALIFORNIA JUNIPER DD. Fruit round, i-seeded; leaves in twos or threes; twigs slender. (J. Utahensis) UTAH JUNIPER CC. Seeds 4 to 12; berry with tubercles projecting.
D. Bark shed in thin, red, papery scales.
(J. flaccida) DROOPING JUNIPER DD. Bark shed in squarish plates.
(J. pachyphlwa) CHECKER-BARKED JUNIPER BB. Berry small (except occidentalis), dark blue or black, resinous, juicy; seeds I to 4.
C. Twigs slender, pendulous.
D. Seed solitary, dark ashy grey.
(J. monosperma) ONE-SEEDED JUNIPER DD. Seeds 2; berry flattened, inch in diameter; bark light reddish brown; twigs Barbadensis) SOUTFLERN RED JUNIPER DDD. Seeds I to 4; berry round; bark brownish red, of loose scales. (J. sabinoides) MOUNTAIN JUNIPER CC. Twigs slender, stiff, erect; berry bright blue.
(J. scopu/onn) ROCKY MOUNTAIN JUNIPER CcC. Twigs stout; berry dark blue with pale bloom; seeds 2 to 3.
D. Leaves in threes, grey-green; tree a broad, low . crown of large horizontal branches.
(J. occidentalis) WESTERN JUNIPER DD. Leaves in twos, blue-green; tree a tall, narrow pyramid.
(J. Virginiana) RED JUNIPER—RED CEDAR The junipers are distinguished from most other evergreens by the fact that they are not cone bearers. The flowers are incon
spicuous, and similar to a true conifer's, but in course of develop ment the scales thicken and grow together, forming a sweet, berry-like fruit. On many of these berries the tips of the cone scales may be distinctly seen on the outer surface. Junipers usually show two kinds of leaves: (i) stiff, spiny, narrow ones, channelled and free; (2) minute, scale-like ones, opposite in pairs and pressed close to the twig. The sap is resinous and aromatic. The wood is hard, reddish, durable and light—in certain species pleasantly fragrant.
Thirty-five species of junipers are distributed over the North ern Hemisphere, contributing to the wealth of the world valuable woods and ornamental trees and shrubs. Our own red juniper has over thirty cultivated varieties. The narrow, tapering spire, the globe of compact green and the pigmy forms—all are well adapted to formal gardening. The effects produced by the classic cypress in warmer climates may be reproduced in Northern gardens by the use of junipers.
The junipers are hardy over wide stretches of territory, and will grow on sterile soil. They resist unfavourable climates and thrive, as a rule, when transplanted. They love the sun and the wind. Better trees could not be provided for windbreaks against sea breezes, on a barren, exposed coast. They are multiplied by seeds, cuttings and layers, as well as by grafting. Seeds take two or three years to germinate.
Several Asiatic and European junipers are cultivated in America in various horticultural forms. Naturally. a tribe so submissive to the gardener's shears has long been under his care. Our native species are often seen in European gardens, and J. com munis, Linn., of Europe is often planted here in its narrow, spiny form. A much-prized Himalayan species, J. recurva, D. Don., is a dwarf with long, spreading or trailing limbs. Of similar habit is J. Sabina, Linn., native of Europe and Asia, parent of many horticultural forms.