Juniper
(Juniperus scopulorum)
western red cedar, Utah Juniper, cedar berries
Description:
An evergreen tree, 35-100 feet high. It produces leaves of two
kinds; the juvenile sharp, needle-shaped and the adult scale-like,
pointed imbricate leaves. This species has 2 pointed leaves
that overlap together.
J. osteoperma has 3. The fruit is light blue when mature, glaucous,
often bilobed, and 2 seeded. Found in the Rocky Mountains of
North America, cultivated and wild. Scarcely distinguished from
the Eastern Red Cedar counterpart, J. virginiana.
EDIBLE,
Medicinal: The berries are used to flavor gin and other
beverages. It is a alterative, diuretic, pancreatic, and alterative.Used
primarily as a urinary tract herb for cystitis and urethritis
and said to be effective in diabetes. The berries and leaves
are used, berries being the most effective. Steeped berries
are used for digestion, to ease gas, relieve joint aches, toothaches,
arthritis, fevers. Use 1 teaspoon of the crushed berries or
1 teaspoon leaves, steeped in 1 cup water, for 15 minutes. Drink
1-3 cups a day. Heated berries were applied to wounds and sores
for antiseptic and healing washes. Poultices from crushed berries
and leaves are used for scalds, burns and sores.
