The tall juniper is a tree with millions of years of history. This evergreen plant has been valued since ancient times both for its high-quality wood and for its unique healing properties. Unfortunately, it is found less and less in the wild, which is why it is listed in the Red Book. In the article we will talk about what kind of juniper tree is tall, photos will also be presented.
Description of the plant
"Prickly" - this is how the Celts called this tree, but the Slavs gave a completely different definition: "growing between spruces" - "juniper". This evergreen tree belongs to the cypress family. Juniper high is a relatively small plant. But compared to other representatives of the species, it reaches the largest sizes.
What is this tree? Its main characteristics are a height of up to 15 meters, a rounded crown and brown bark, the scales of which tend to peel off. Among the dense needles, you can see young shoots, curved in an arc. It is on them that juniper fruits grow - small berries. young, theydo not attract attention, however, ripe ones clearly stand out among the bluish-green needles - they have a characteristic dark blue color. White coating is not uncommon on them.
This type of juniper grows very slowly: by the age of 60 it can reach only a meter in height, but the tree grows to a five-meter mark by 140 years. By the way, the average age of a juniper is 200 years. However, there are individual individuals with a 1000-year history.
The tree is very rich in essential oils, so it can only be identified by smell.
Distribution area
As for distribution, the high juniper (pictured below) prefers a dry, hot climate. Therefore, it is found throughout the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in the southern part of the Crimea, the highlands of Pakistan. The Caucasus and Central Asia can also boast of the presence of these beautiful and useful representatives of the plant world in every sense.
It is interesting to reproduce a tree: in order for a seed to germinate, it must pass through the bird's digestive system. After this difficult "journey", the seed becomes capable of germination.
Preferences
Calcite or rocky soil, lots of sun - that's what this tree needs to live. Most often, such characteristics of the terrain are the slopes of the mountains, not quite high. Juniper grows in the lower belts of mountains. Although there are cases when a tree climbs high enough, for example, there are facts of juniper growthat the 4000m mark.
The tree is absolutely unpretentious, it tolerates both heat and a short-term drop in temperature. If the thermometer drops to -25 - this is not critical for juniper. But he can't stand too much cold exposure.
Most often, the tall juniper, described above, does not grow alone, but creates light forests. The most comfortable tree feels surrounded by spruces, oaks and pistachio trees.
Medical use
The healing properties that high juniper is rich in have been known since ancient times. They are even captured in myths and legends. So, it was with the help of this plant that Jason got the Golden Fleece (Myths of Ancient Greece). Taking advantage of the hypnotic qualities of the juniper tree, he put the guard snake to sleep and thus fulfilled his mission.
The aroma of the tree truly works miracles of healing. Being in the light forests of juniper, inhaling healing vapors, you can get rid of many diseases. These trees are able to purify the air much better than other conifers. This quality was used by our ancestors: they fumigated the premises with juniper, if there were patients there. Virgil advised doing the same during cholera outbreaks in Ancient Rome.
Juniper is useful not only to breathe: in order to better heal and destroy bacteria, its oil heals wounds. The juniper tree is useful for arthritis and rheumatism: just rub the sore spots with essential oil.
They take high juniper inside for colds: a decoction is prepared from its cones and given to the patient in a tablespoon. Tea from the fruits of the tree is also recommended for people suffering from diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
It should be remembered that the plant has serious contraindications: it should not be used by pregnant women and people with acute kidney disease.
Rich in healing properties, high juniper was endowed with our ancestors and esoteric qualities. It was used to remove damage, protect against dark forces, and make amulets.
Home use
So rich in bactericidal properties, juniper has excellent wood that is also resistant to rot. An example of the use of such material is the famous Genoese fortress in the city of Sudak. Ceilings in its cellars are made of juniper trunks, and for the 700-year history of the architectural monument, they have not failed.
Firmly hold the columns of the trunks of the load of the three floors of the fortress. It is worth noting that elements not made of juniper have long been in need of reconstruction. Dishes, toys, and icon frames are also made from wood.
Juniper berries are also used for domestic purposes. Rich in sugar, before the revolution they were its source for many people living in the places where it grows.
Security
The tree began to be mercilessly cut down because of the high value of wood. That is why the high juniper is listed in the Red Book.
Also onIn the territories where the tree was distributed, hostilities were fought during the Great Patriotic War, which also affected its numbers. There were also very dry years (50s), when the remaining individuals were subjected to another test.
Currently, woodlands are being preserved, in which high juniper grows. The Red Book (a full description of the tree is given in it) refers juniper to group I - especially protected. The organization of nature reserves is in full swing at the places of accumulation of these useful and already few trees.
