BLUE 



COMMON JUNIPER 



Juniperus communis Pine Family 



Fruit. — The berrylike cones do not develop 

 until the second year, and often remain on the 

 branches some time after ripening. When fully 

 ripe, in the fall of the second year, the fruits 

 are dark blue with a bloom. They are usually 

 three-seeded. The flesh of the berry is dry and 

 mealy. The seeds are slow in germinating, re- 

 quiring two years. The fruit develops from 

 three fleshy scales, united from their bases nearly 

 to the tips, and inclosing three ovules. AVhen 

 ripe, the tips of the scales are still visible, with 

 lines from each joining in a common center. 

 The berry is nearly stemless and axillary. It 

 is much used in making gin, an infusion of the 

 berries being added to distilled grain. 



Leaves. — The short, stemless, sharp-pomted 

 leaves are arranged in whorls of three. They 

 are bright green and shining on the lower sur- 



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