42 



Common Trees 



COMMON JUNIPER 



Juniperus communis, Linnaeus 



The Common Juniper is a variable tree with several 

 geographical varieties and garden forms. It sometimes 

 becomes 20 feet high. 



The leaves are linear, about l /$ to x /i of an inch long, 

 tapering to a sharp point, usually concave, and marked with 

 a broad white 

 band on up- 

 p e r surface. 

 They spread 

 nearly at 

 right angles 

 to the twigs 

 and persist 

 for many 

 years. 



The fruit 

 is a dark blue 

 t o glaucous 

 round berry, 

 about Y\ of 

 an inch in di- 

 ameter and 

 matures at 

 the end of 

 the second or 

 third year. 



The fruit is 

 occasion- 

 ally employed 

 i n medicine, 

 and in Europe it is used to impart a peculiar flavor to gin. 



The bark is dark reddish-brown and peels off in thin 

 scales. The twigs are smooth, glossy, and reddish-brown. 

 The wood is hard, close-grained and very durable. 



The Common Juniper reaches almost around the World. 

 It occurs from Greenland and Newfoundland south through 

 New England to Pennsylvania and along the mountains to 

 North Carolina and westward to Alaska and New Mexico. 

 It is also common in northern and western Asia to Korea and 

 Japan. It is probably the most widely distributed tree native 

 to North America. In New York this tree is found across the 

 northern and central parts of the State. It is rare in western 

 New York and unknown on Long Island and Staten Island. 



The variety "depressa" is common on exposed summits of 

 the Adirondacks and Catskills. 



COMMON JUNIPER 

 One-third natural size. 



