CONIFER. 275 
given to our well-known liquor, is a corruption of the French word genévre, an infusion 
of juniper berries. It was formerly supposed that the juniper, when grown in hot 
countries, produced the substance called gum sandarach, which, when powdered, is 
called pounce ; but it is now discovered that this gum is the produce of Callitris 
quadrivalvis, or the Thuja or Arbor Vite of the ancients. From a foreign species of 
juniper is obtained the resin called olibanum, used as incense; and another variety of 
juniper is the pencil cedar. In the Highlands juniper is the badge of the clan Murray. 
In countries where juniper abounds, such as Norway and Sweden, the sprays are 
strewed over the floors of rooms, on account of the agreeable odour they diffuse. They 
are said also to promote sleep. Boccaccio alludes to such a custom as essential to 
paradisaical enjoyment; and in former ages, though rushes were commonly used to 
strew over floors, juniper was reserved as a luxury for high festivals or the most 
opulent. Virgil warns us against trusting to the seductive influence of the “juniperi 
gravis umbra:”— 
“ Juniper’s sweet shade, whose leaves around 
Fragrance diffuse, at eve are noxious found.” 
The ancients consecrated the juniper to the Furies, and threw its berries on the 
faneral pile, to protect the departing spirit from evil influences. They also sacrificed 
it to the infernal gods, to whom they believed its perfume was acceptable, and burnt 
it in their dwelling-houses to keep away demons. A similar custom prevails in some 
parts of the Continent, where the peasants believe that burning juniper branches 
before their doors will prevent the incantation of witches, and drive away evil spirits. 
Tt is probably in allusion to this belief that Sir Walter Scott says, in the “ Lady of 
the Lake ” :— 
** A heap of wither’d boughs was piled; 
Of juniper and rowan wild, 
Mingled with shivers from the oak 
Rent by the lightning’s recent stroke.” 
The juniper bush was at one time much employed in topiary work, and Evelyn 
mentions that his brother had an arbour which three persons could sit in, ent out of 
asingle plant. This arbour was seven feet wide, and eleven feet high. The juniper 
is occasionally still seen in modern gardens, trained and clipped into the form of an 
open bowl or goblet. 
Sus-Sprecizs IU.—Juniperus nana. Willd. 
Pirate MCCCLXXXIII. 
Reich, Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. XI. Tab. DXXXV. Fig. 1142. 
Billot, Fl. Gall. et Germ. No. 3472. 
J. communis, var. nana, Hook. & Arn. Brit. Fl. ed. viii. p. 420. Benth. Handbk. 
Brit. Fl. ed. ii. p. 481. Fries. Summ. Veg. Scand. p. 59 
J. alpina, Olus. Gren. & Godr. Fl. de Fr. Vol. III. p. 157. 
Procumbent or prostrate. Leaves when mature imbricated-incurved, 
strapshaped, boatshaped, abruptly acuminated at the pungent apex. 
Galbule ovoid-globular, about as long as the leaves. 
On rocks and heathy places on mountains. Rare in the south, 
NN 2 
